tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-69160342583866035812017-07-29T08:17:20.265-07:00Fugads Geocaching BlogAaron Hobsonnoreply@blogger.comBlogger134125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6916034258386603581.post-56105977680630241822017-07-09T21:09:00.000-07:002017-07-14T21:10:15.680-07:00Geocaching as consolation: Zapata LakeI can't remember if or when I have climbed a 14er before. Growing up, my family went on many trips into high mountains of the west, but my memory of exactly where we went, and how high the peaks were is hazy. Living here in Santa Fe though, suddenly puts me in striking distance to several 14ers in Colorado, and this weekend I jumped at an opportunity to climb one. One of my wife's colleagues, Uttam, wanted to summit <a href="http://www.summitpost.org/ellingwood-point/150451">Ellingwood Point</a>, and hatched a plan to leave at 2 in the morning drive up, summit the peak and be down off the ridge before 12pm. I guess there was a decent chance of afternoon thunderstorms. The trip sounded pretty intense but also the kind of thing that gets me excited. I talked him out of the 2am start though, instead suggesting we leave the night before and bivy at the trailhead. He agreed to this approach.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4wRuzMC9Oq0/WWmTGow-PCI/AAAAAAAAWuU/jfFJAXMFiawiqBuxcDFFDySaJ7JUPAiOACKgBGAs/s1600/20170709_035830.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4wRuzMC9Oq0/WWmTGow-PCI/AAAAAAAAWuU/jfFJAXMFiawiqBuxcDFFDySaJ7JUPAiOACKgBGAs/s320/20170709_035830.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Full moon above our bivy</td></tr></tbody></table><br />We pulled into the trailhead parking around 9:30 pm and the first thing we realize after getting out of the car is that the mosquitos are out in force here. Even at 9,000ft elevation, they are present. Neither of us had any real mosquito protection, we just had a few sleeping pads and sleeping bags. Not being able to do much about it, we set up the sleeping gear and settled in for the night, only foir it to start to rain on us. Luckily, I did have a tarp big enough to go over us, and it even helped keep the mosquitos off our faces, but even so I slept pretty fitfully. It didn't help that there was a big, bright, full moon shining directly overhead.<br /><br />4am, the alarms beep and we get up and make our final preparations for the hike. By 4:30 we are on the trail and headed up to Zapata lake. The full moon lights the trail pretty well, and we don't have to use headlamps to make steady progress. Up and up we go. The moon sets behind the ridge to our south, and the sky lightens. We reach Zapata lake around 7am, and the sun is just about to pop over the ridge in front of us. We are making good time so far, but the going gets tough from here on out.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Yn9DynPLLrQ/WWmTXs-zjLI/AAAAAAAAWuY/6TMjQALf-yUT5797Mkkak62uNHPkOgfvwCKgBGAs/s1600/20170709_070218.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Yn9DynPLLrQ/WWmTXs-zjLI/AAAAAAAAWuY/6TMjQALf-yUT5797Mkkak62uNHPkOgfvwCKgBGAs/s320/20170709_070218.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Zapata Lake</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9P6HrO_RSRA/WWmTXuGdoHI/AAAAAAAAWuY/ETIOe3UafsARe40f7CHdurjmAe2crlLSQCKgBGAs/s1600/20170709_071338.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="515" data-original-width="1600" height="204" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9P6HrO_RSRA/WWmTXuGdoHI/AAAAAAAAWuY/ETIOe3UafsARe40f7CHdurjmAe2crlLSQCKgBGAs/s640/20170709_071338.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />There is couloir called C2, which is the most efficient way to scale Ellingwood peak, but it is still full of snow, and not knowing how treacherous a snow climb would be, we opt for the C3 couloir which is rocky, but means we have a longer route with more ups and downs along the long ridge leading up to Ellingwood. Almost immediately after leaving Zapata lake, Uttam begins having trouble. We are above 11,000 ft and the altitude is starting to get to him. We slowly make our way to the base of a gully filled with loose rock and scree. The going gets even slower, and the slope threatens to rock-slide several times, making for a nervous ascent. I make the ridge top above well ahead of Uttam, and am pleasantly surprised to see I ahve a good cell signal, so I check in with home, and eat a snack. Uttam crests a while later, looking pale and tired. The loose rock was not something he had anticipated, and he really didn't like it. But we were on the ridge now, hopefully the going would be easier.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BQk4RekFEaY/WWmTpc9jQWI/AAAAAAAAWuc/d3Ljjumo3KMGei9RVQMx8oMN76250NyQQCKgBGAs/s1600/20170709_082110.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BQk4RekFEaY/WWmTpc9jQWI/AAAAAAAAWuc/d3Ljjumo3KMGei9RVQMx8oMN76250NyQQCKgBGAs/s320/20170709_082110.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RMn3E6wOe5k/WWmTpeP90jI/AAAAAAAAWuc/G54NEURakv4zd8SSqrDf7ANq8kMv15IQgCKgBGAs/s1600/20170709_084535.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RMn3E6wOe5k/WWmTpeP90jI/AAAAAAAAWuc/G54NEURakv4zd8SSqrDf7ANq8kMv15IQgCKgBGAs/s400/20170709_084535.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Twin peaks (the actual name) to our west from the top of the ridge</td></tr></tbody></table><br />It feels like the going is easier to me,even though there are some climbs and descents we need to navigate along the ridge, but Uttam is still having difficulty. I stop and wait for him several times, watching as he carefully finds his footing on the rocky exposed ridge. After a few hours, we nearly reach the point where the C2 couloir joins the ridge, and I see footprints in the snow below, indicating someone had used that route recently. Uttam though, is not buyoed by our progress, but is sweating the clock. Despite having really clear skies, he still insists on being off the ridge by noon, and based on our current progress, that means we have no chance of tagging the peak. He offers to let me go ahead, and I contemplate it. I'm feeling pretty good still, not too tired, and the peak is invitingly close. But Uttam looks like he is out of his element and leaving him to fend for himself seems like a dickish thing to do. So we decide to turn around, just over 13,000 ft of elevation.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/--1o8ww2IqSo/WWmTz9NvCfI/AAAAAAAAWug/uBO7VhpmynAWOlp_c3I16oafHHay-p5tgCKgBGAs/s1600/20170709_095046.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/--1o8ww2IqSo/WWmTz9NvCfI/AAAAAAAAWug/uBO7VhpmynAWOlp_c3I16oafHHay-p5tgCKgBGAs/s640/20170709_095046.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Uttam on the ridge top, typical terrain</td></tr></tbody></table>Progress down is just as slow as coming up, especially the steep C3 couloir. I'm having a blast, finding snow slopes to glissade down (I brought my ice-axe along just for such an occasion). Uttam, looks a lot less pleased. But we make it down to Zapata lake, and then begin the long trek back to the trailhead. As a consolation, I stop to find two geocaches on the way down. Geocaching was really a big part of this hike, there is no geocache on Ellingwood Point. Although Blanca peak to the south does have a cache on it,&nbsp;<a href="https://coord.info/GC2BMZY">GC2BMZY</a>&nbsp;, and I had my eyes on that as a possible route extension. Even without bagging the peaks though, our hike still clocked in at 13.5 miles, over 5,000 ft elevation gain<br />&nbsp;and took us almost 12 hours. We were both totally wiped out as we got to the car, and I can only imagine how much more fatigued we would have been had we summitted. Still, the high peaks were amazing to be in, and I will surely try to come back and try this climb again. I think Uttam will too.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-o6r2LhtR8FI/WWmVM7PVBRI/AAAAAAAAWuo/JqsPkvcFKqQXdqSr8ELVlur5kx21ThDKwCKgBGAs/s1600/20170709_120220.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-o6r2LhtR8FI/WWmVM7PVBRI/AAAAAAAAWuo/JqsPkvcFKqQXdqSr8ELVlur5kx21ThDKwCKgBGAs/s640/20170709_120220.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from small lake above Zapata Lake</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Qrl3_pGYmpU/WWmVM5jxV9I/AAAAAAAAWuo/oC8d5uCsPgI9UsNmz7GBNTW5RYYJ3MNfwCKgBGAs/s1600/20170709_131542%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Qrl3_pGYmpU/WWmVM5jxV9I/AAAAAAAAWuo/oC8d5uCsPgI9UsNmz7GBNTW5RYYJ3MNfwCKgBGAs/s400/20170709_131542%25281%2529.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Marmot at Zapata Lake</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NhK5rQ2sRa8/WWmVMy-i94I/AAAAAAAAWuo/7OZ3KZ74zS0SreS-sazI-Ckcy3gfsWP3ACKgBGAs/s1600/20170709_151935.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NhK5rQ2sRa8/WWmVMy-i94I/AAAAAAAAWuo/7OZ3KZ74zS0SreS-sazI-Ckcy3gfsWP3ACKgBGAs/s400/20170709_151935.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Uttam near Zapata Falls</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uZCJyAfZUfI/WWmVM9BJPkI/AAAAAAAAWuo/LaXxWOke7Q0sSeTu64Gd47RhxzcYGz9iACKgBGAs/s1600/20170709_151813.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uZCJyAfZUfI/WWmVM9BJPkI/AAAAAAAAWuo/LaXxWOke7Q0sSeTu64Gd47RhxzcYGz9iACKgBGAs/s400/20170709_151813.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Zapata Falls</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KJl614mqK1E/WWmVMzOBitI/AAAAAAAAWuo/qEWDX9EHsagC1uoo2EN3mOOUzlC6f2WlACKgBGAs/s1600/20170709_153625.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KJl614mqK1E/WWmVMzOBitI/AAAAAAAAWuo/qEWDX9EHsagC1uoo2EN3mOOUzlC6f2WlACKgBGAs/s400/20170709_153625.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Near GZ for one of the caches we found.</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Aaron Hobsonhttps://plus.google.com/103044856479168567706noreply@blogger.com0South Zapata Lake, Colorado 81146, USA37.5910366 -105.5069581000000237.5894636 -105.50947960000002 37.5926096 -105.50443660000002tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6916034258386603581.post-43852768735458632512017-06-24T06:14:00.000-07:002017-06-30T06:21:11.070-07:00The Mountain Goat GangIt feels like it has been quite a while since I did a long hike without the family, a few months at least. So when I finally had an opportunity for "daddy" hike on Saturday, I went BIG. &nbsp;A colleague of mine wanted to hike Truchas peak. I had already hiked <a href="https://fugads.blogspot.com/2016/07/the-himalayas-of-new-mexico.html">Trucahs last summer</a>, but I hadn't hiked <a href="http://www.summitpost.org/east-pecos-baldy/709223">Pecos Baldy</a>, so I talked him into coming with me to Pecos Baldy, with the <i>possibility</i>&nbsp;of an extension out to Truchas peak. My hiking companions were the same co-workers who did the crazy ridge-hike with me <a href="https://fugads.blogspot.com/2016/10/ftf-weekend-at-wheeler-peak-friend-to.html">last October on Mt. Wheeler</a>. This time, our route would be almost entirely on well maintained trails, so the going would be easier. But the overall distance would be large, well over 20 miles by my estimates. I wasn't worried about our ability to hike the miles, I was worried that we would be chased off by thunderstorms. The forecast was for afternoon storms to roll in.<br /><br />We left Santa Fe at 6am and made the hour long drive up to Cowles and the <a href="https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/santafe/recarea/?recid=75906">Jack Creek campground trailhead</a>. The trailhead was already pretty packed, but most of the vehicles were probably backpacker groups as there weren't that many folks actually starting their hike. At 7:20, we were on the trail, heading deep into the Pecos Wilderness. The morning was foggy. We got to our first "stop" a geocache titled <a href="https://coord.info/GC63X72">sex-tillion dollar view</a>, but all we could see was fog and mist. It did look like it was starting to clear though. We had a few more small geocaches that we stopped for as we made our way up to Pecos Baldy Lake which we reached at a little past 10am. Not bad time at all! And I'm happy to say, faster than my buddy Birddroppings, when he did this same hike a number of years ago. The fog had finally lifted and we had great views of the Pecos Baldys above us. There were several backpacking groups camped at the lake, and we met one group of three women who were just starting their hike back to Jack's Creek. When they found out we were heading to Truchas peak, and doing it as a day-hike, they exclaimed we must me ex-military. They had attempted Truchas peak just the day before, but as a day trip starting from Pecos Baldy Lake, a "mere" ten mile trip, and even then, they were shut down by fierce winds near the top of the mountain. Yes, we were doing a rather foolishly long hike. But so far the weather looked good and we felt strong. So off we went.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OSHs7QvmZ3I/WVZIGauVG_I/AAAAAAAAWUY/CJSTuzkAa2gDcFw_9kzjCZb0SpygsUczgCKgBGAs/s1600/20170624_081049.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OSHs7QvmZ3I/WVZIGauVG_I/AAAAAAAAWUY/CJSTuzkAa2gDcFw_9kzjCZb0SpygsUczgCKgBGAs/s400/20170624_081049.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ryan at our first Trail Junction</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fyPSfyaAj4E/WVZIGRxOQmI/AAAAAAAAWUY/mHq_Mu9Y3fAivXu5gRCaJSt7RJ05GbDRACKgBGAs/s1600/20170624_083846.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fyPSfyaAj4E/WVZIGRxOQmI/AAAAAAAAWUY/mHq_Mu9Y3fAivXu5gRCaJSt7RJ05GbDRACKgBGAs/s400/20170624_083846.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ryan and Austin sign the log on Sex-tillion dollar view</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-urlUE93LvKs/WVZIGfS8k6I/AAAAAAAAWUY/687aCP9xN6MinKXMOe_Uftvr_4X51YnFgCKgBGAs/s1600/20170624_083904.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-urlUE93LvKs/WVZIGfS8k6I/AAAAAAAAWUY/687aCP9xN6MinKXMOe_Uftvr_4X51YnFgCKgBGAs/s400/20170624_083904.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The "sex tillion dollar view". Not much when the fog is in.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VinWIAQ06D4/WVZIGTaCDfI/AAAAAAAAWUY/3OU4mCp4MkU_xcxyM7x2Ngj8BfUzU43zwCKgBGAs/s1600/20170624_102013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VinWIAQ06D4/WVZIGTaCDfI/AAAAAAAAWUY/3OU4mCp4MkU_xcxyM7x2Ngj8BfUzU43zwCKgBGAs/s400/20170624_102013.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At Pecos Baldy Lake, reading maps</td></tr></tbody></table>The next part of the hike was one I was particularly looking forward to, the <a href="https://mapcarta.com/23335724">Trail Rider's Wall</a>. I had seen this from Truchas peak before, a long, treeless ridge connecting Pecos Baldy to Truchas peak. It is mostly flat and meadow like, but falls away fairly steeply on both sides giving it wonderful views for the full mile length. I also had plans to hide a geocache on this formation. Plus the name is cool! As we made our way across the wall, I found myself humming "rawhide" from the Blue's Brothers, and taking in the views in all directions. Big mountains all around, clear weather above, nothing better.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-W080EoY_a1Q/WVZJtpjEfXI/AAAAAAAAWUk/fpfjPkEwshIQC9mqHfmVINBx-AL9cLaGQCKgBGAs/s1600/20170624_105009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-W080EoY_a1Q/WVZJtpjEfXI/AAAAAAAAWUk/fpfjPkEwshIQC9mqHfmVINBx-AL9cLaGQCKgBGAs/s640/20170624_105009.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking north at the start of the Trail Rider's Wall</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pIngwsoGZaM/WVZJtmD0QLI/AAAAAAAAWUk/rKsS8w_b-I8yTpO0ZXXGkpB0aQ-QIQ2QACKgBGAs/s1600/20170624_110212.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pIngwsoGZaM/WVZJtmD0QLI/AAAAAAAAWUk/rKsS8w_b-I8yTpO0ZXXGkpB0aQ-QIQ2QACKgBGAs/s400/20170624_110212.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A brief patch of snow along the wall</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XJR6VdDWo3s/WVZJtpOm01I/AAAAAAAAWUk/qILmT1Np-IMoAHVUw17JypR53J9Vn1OAQCKgBGAs/s1600/20170624_111406.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="594" data-original-width="1600" height="236" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XJR6VdDWo3s/WVZJtpOm01I/AAAAAAAAWUk/qILmT1Np-IMoAHVUw17JypR53J9Vn1OAQCKgBGAs/s640/20170624_111406.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Views along the Wall</td></tr></tbody></table>The Trail Rider's Wall puts you directly at the footstep of South Truchas, the largest of the Truchas group. The trail continues a bit east, skirting around the mountain towards some lakes and other trails. We left the trail though and found a faint casual trail used by hikers climbing Truchas. It was actually pretty easy to follow, but it was also our steepest climb yet, and it slowed us down somewhat. We encountered our first Bighorn Sheep on the flanks of Truchas. First just a lone sheep, then a small herd. We also ran into a couple groups of hikers coming down off the summit. Luckily, we had the summit to ourselves when we finally reached the top. It was 12:30, and we had been hiking for over 5 hours without much of a break. Time for lunch!<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qDCRUQ7BBAE/WVZLKTYC1iI/AAAAAAAAWUw/6W6MgAoGLQsST8h8t_iD6Qw6svjOGnIsgCKgBGAs/s1600/20170624_115732.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qDCRUQ7BBAE/WVZLKTYC1iI/AAAAAAAAWUw/6W6MgAoGLQsST8h8t_iD6Qw6svjOGnIsgCKgBGAs/s320/20170624_115732.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Steep climbing up the slopes of Truchas</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zqcLegYbD1I/WVZLKWE5qzI/AAAAAAAAWUw/Iwq9fgRw184xD3McchrdxLF6hXMyZ5JUgCKgBGAs/s1600/20170624_122909.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="1600" height="178" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zqcLegYbD1I/WVZLKWE5qzI/AAAAAAAAWUw/Iwq9fgRw184xD3McchrdxLF6hXMyZ5JUgCKgBGAs/s640/20170624_122909.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Summit views</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-St_1EWm0uWI/WVZLKQIC5HI/AAAAAAAAWUw/PrrSkn8PbtAA-o5QWn2xHUX1m15txJC2ACKgBGAs/s1600/20170624_124830.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-St_1EWm0uWI/WVZLKQIC5HI/AAAAAAAAWUw/PrrSkn8PbtAA-o5QWn2xHUX1m15txJC2ACKgBGAs/s400/20170624_124830.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ryan builds a snow man</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XqrOU2HFBlA/WVZLKQBnW_I/AAAAAAAAWUw/OIiWMYteVms-Ct_i75zGn3wPfbeK7tnMQCKgBGAs/s1600/20170624_125708.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XqrOU2HFBlA/WVZLKQBnW_I/AAAAAAAAWUw/OIiWMYteVms-Ct_i75zGn3wPfbeK7tnMQCKgBGAs/s400/20170624_125708.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our attempt at a summit "leap shot"</td></tr></tbody></table>On the way back down from Truchas we encountered a couple more herds of sheep, and even found out where they liked to congregate, a patch of dug up earth on a ridge top. Perhaps there are some salt deposits in this patch that attracted the sheep here. The area was all torn up, and had several well worn trails leading to/from it. We found another such congregation/salt-lick at the saddle beneath East Pecos Baldy which we reached a few hours after being on top of Truchas. It was starting to get late in the day and we were definitely slowing down, but we wearily tackled the steep climb up East Pecos baldy. We climbed up right through a group of sheep, who posed magnificently on the rocks above us, their silhouettes blocking out the sun above us. It was at the summit of East Pecos Baldy that we finally had to confront our growing fatigue. I really wanted to tag Pecos Baldy, a mere half a mile away along a ridge line, but Austin was pretty beat and was ready to start heading down. We still had many miles to hike out and he raised some good points. After some discussion, he and Ryan did start down the trail that led down to Pecos Baldy Lake, but I scampered off to Pecos Baldy. Amazing that I still had some pep in my step! I tagged Pecos Baldy and hid another geocache their, then booked my way down to the lake, determined to catch up, or at least not have them wait too long for me. Ryan and Austin had taken my water filter and were going to pump water at the lake (a couple of us had run out, including yours truly). As I jogged up to the lake, they were still pumping away. Phew, timed my little jaunt perfectly.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3o_Q8s8tnAw/WVZOLth1DXI/AAAAAAAAWU8/ME4U01Mv4D4Wggf_GQmNFrYZSUeJqOqVQCKgBGAs/s1600/20170624_154420.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3o_Q8s8tnAw/WVZOLth1DXI/AAAAAAAAWU8/ME4U01Mv4D4Wggf_GQmNFrYZSUeJqOqVQCKgBGAs/s320/20170624_154420.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On East Pecos Baldy</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gI46Ox3aFrc/WVZOLo6bpAI/AAAAAAAAWU8/vhGxl6Jmla8ZohFRvCARLZGG884qOKqxQCKgBGAs/s1600/20170624_154449.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gI46Ox3aFrc/WVZOLo6bpAI/AAAAAAAAWU8/vhGxl6Jmla8ZohFRvCARLZGG884qOKqxQCKgBGAs/s320/20170624_154449.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Solo on Pecos Baldy</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_UL-xCnMka0/WVZOLrmVI2I/AAAAAAAAWU8/bfAWSHYdVo054H9CK1ieLbRIOmNi4lCZACKgBGAs/s1600/20170624_161234.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="306" data-original-width="1600" height="122" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_UL-xCnMka0/WVZOLrmVI2I/AAAAAAAAWU8/bfAWSHYdVo054H9CK1ieLbRIOmNi4lCZACKgBGAs/s640/20170624_161234.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from Pecos Baldy</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-u8Pm97Lcnmw/WVZOLpZ4LMI/AAAAAAAAWU8/AjdL4ZqO5J0N3VJaWcyY4uTrSfQwxqf0wCKgBGAs/s1600/20170624_165311.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-u8Pm97Lcnmw/WVZOLpZ4LMI/AAAAAAAAWU8/AjdL4ZqO5J0N3VJaWcyY4uTrSfQwxqf0wCKgBGAs/s400/20170624_165311.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pumping water at Pecos Baldy Lake</td></tr></tbody></table><br />The hike out felt much longer than the hike in, event though we did it in about the same amount of time. &nbsp;What a difference 10 hours of hiking and 7000 feet of elevation gain makes! I heard at least a phew grumblings from Ryan that maybe next time he would prefer a shorter hike, but still as steep and hard. Just not so <i>loooong</i>. I can see his point, it was a grueling day. My GPSr indicated over 27 miles on the odometer (although the track log shows it coming in at 25.5 miles). But for me, I wound't have done it any other way. A long hike like this is exactly what I needed to get that feeling of inner mountain goat. Roaming the wide and wild expanses of the Pecos wilderness!<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pbYpbo0GLe8/WVZOd9Pi4II/AAAAAAAAWVA/HiGrS_N-iQ8c49QpFligMDT90t1n137MQCKgBGAs/s1600/20170624_185620.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pbYpbo0GLe8/WVZOd9Pi4II/AAAAAAAAWVA/HiGrS_N-iQ8c49QpFligMDT90t1n137MQCKgBGAs/s640/20170624_185620.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Growing shadows as we leave the Pecos Wilderness</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Y-lxeUtTGOo/WVZOd5piRzI/AAAAAAAAWVA/-i77dQG6bNgCi2AHtMATkwyEtG2ClBehwCKgBGAs/s1600/20170624_174453.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Y-lxeUtTGOo/WVZOd5piRzI/AAAAAAAAWVA/-i77dQG6bNgCi2AHtMATkwyEtG2ClBehwCKgBGAs/s640/20170624_174453.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hiking through a burn area</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YHD6eDtGnTA/WVZOd9SdqiI/AAAAAAAAWVA/F9TTI3aJPgYdCeZNKDU6w-0jP6SY-d1xwCKgBGAs/s1600/20170624_183141.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YHD6eDtGnTA/WVZOd9SdqiI/AAAAAAAAWVA/F9TTI3aJPgYdCeZNKDU6w-0jP6SY-d1xwCKgBGAs/s640/20170624_183141.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The real "sex tillion dollar view"</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Aaron Hobsonhttps://plus.google.com/103044856479168567706noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6916034258386603581.post-33183367146325977232017-04-22T08:20:00.000-07:002017-04-28T13:07:45.953-07:00MOGA 2017<div class="LogEntryText markdown-output" id="LogTextbox"><span id="ctl00_ContentBody_LogBookPanel1_LogText">I got up nice and early on race day, because they wanted all the geocachers racing in the individual competition to be at the location by 7am. That meant getting up at 6am, and preparing for the race, but this is no big deal. My normal wake-up time is 5am. I packed all my racing kit, including a bag of extra clothes, and went downstairs to get my free hotel breakfast. Fueled up on eggs and bacon, I drove out to meet the rising Kansas sun and see what the competition area would look like.</span><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cQfWBd-mRfY/WQOgtQ6KXsI/AAAAAAAAVaA/GUYAiWR9Vo0z-yQ2F0BAiN7LR5tyfRIfgCKgB/s1600/20170422_064737.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cQfWBd-mRfY/WQOgtQ6KXsI/AAAAAAAAVaA/GUYAiWR9Vo0z-yQ2F0BAiN7LR5tyfRIfgCKgB/s640/20170422_064737.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunrise at the Lazy T Ranch, with one of the event gadget caches in the foreground.</td></tr></tbody></table><span id="ctl00_ContentBody_LogBookPanel1_LogText"><br /></span><span id="ctl00_ContentBody_LogBookPanel1_LogText">The competition this year was at the <a href="http://lazytranchadventures.com/site-map.html">Lazy T Ranch.</a></span><span id="ctl00_ContentBody_LogBookPanel1_LogText"> I learned later that this is the first time the course has been on private land. Usually it is held at a state or county park I guess. I was one of the first competitors to get the waypoints loaded into my trusty Garmin 60CSx and I sat down with the map of the course to figure out my strategy.</span><br /><span id="ctl00_ContentBody_LogBookPanel1_LogText"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jjCLjiprmn0/WQNePzpolrI/AAAAAAAAVZA/2it65g5a2AcUCVRy2OgspMJ3uzJoQWNWQCKgB/s1600/20170422_094426.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jjCLjiprmn0/WQNePzpolrI/AAAAAAAAVZA/2it65g5a2AcUCVRy2OgspMJ3uzJoQWNWQCKgB/s640/20170422_094426.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span id="ctl00_ContentBody_LogBookPanel1_LogText">Compared to last year, this course looked easy. Not only was there less ground to cover, but there were no odd multi-caches to throw off my route. The furthest cache was maybe a mile away and most of the caches were pretty well clustered in a few areas. This year, it would all be about speed. I had no doubt that people would be finishing well under the full 2.5 hours.</span><span id="ctl00_ContentBody_LogBookPanel1_LogText"> Right before the race, all the competitors gatherd beneath a hill to take a group photo, and then the start was announced. "5... 4....3....2...1.... GO", and we all took off.</span><br /><br /><span id="ctl00_ContentBody_LogBookPanel1_LogText">I started off by going west towards punch I25. And my start was pretty bad, because I ended up having to turn around after a few hundred feet because I was in someone's yard and I could hear the organizers yelling at me. "#42 you can't go that way!". I was wearing my #42 soccer jersey, so I knew this was me. According to the map I was looking at, I figured going by this proviate residence would be a good way to start, and I also figured that the houses here were part of the ranch and fair game as far as running around them goes. I don't recall them mentioning that going by the house wasn't allowed either, but apparently it was. So i had to back track a bit, and then work my way up a hillside towards I42. A couple other cachers were also going this way, but I soon passed them and was off thrashing through the woods to my first goal. I got slowed down quite a bit around I25, as there were some nasty thorny shrubs in that area. nothing like getting all scratched up at the start of the race. things got easier after that one though and soon I was flying from punch to punch. Quiote frequently I would run into other cachers on the course, everything was just so compact, but I never was next to any one cacher for long. I was basically running my own race, so i just kept my head down and had it.&nbsp;</span><br /><span id="ctl00_ContentBody_LogBookPanel1_LogText"><br /></span><span id="ctl00_ContentBody_LogBookPanel1_LogText">The best part of the course was the highland caches, starting with I47. Above the wooded hillsides was a nice open prairie with great views of the hills all around, and relatively easy running between points. I say relatively because the prairie wasn't golf-course flat, and the tall grass hid all sorts of little holes and rocks. But I'm used to this kind of thing. It was very much like my training runs out in the deserts around Santa Fe, so I made good time on this portion of the course. There were a couple punches that took me a few minutes to find, but mostly I was having an easy time of it. that changed at punch I79, where I joined three other cachers who had been there 20 minutes already. I searched with them for 5 minutes myself, but got impatient. if this one was missing, I would just need to skip it. and if a whole bunch of other cachers couldn't locate it in 25 minutes I figured there was a good chance it was missing. So off I went. only two caches later, at I64, I ran into another tough one for me. Luckily, another cacher walked by and I asked for a hint and was directed to where the cache was hidden, tucked into the gaping hole in a root. The rest of the course was fast and easy and I was soon running into the finish area. Of course you have to finish strong, so I ran as hard as I could this last stretch and flopped down in front of the Race Official with my card. I must say, the folks hanging around the finish area seemed a little surprised that I was finishing already. I was definitely the first person to finish, and my time was pretty darn good.</span><br /><br /><span id="ctl00_ContentBody_LogBookPanel1_LogText">The next competitor to roll in, (Joe a previous winner of the Individual Comp) asked about #79 immediately when trotting in. When he heard it hadn't been found by me, he raced off to give it another look. I debated for a second about heading out after him. If he turned up I79 and I didn't get it, he would surely win. But on the other hand, if I79 was indeed missing, my going back out could allow another competitor to come in and beat my time. So I stayed put and drank down a coconut water. The race officials sent someone out to look for #79 as well, and I sat there, trying to be patiently optimistic.</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span id="ctl00_ContentBody_LogBookPanel1_LogText"></span></div><span id="ctl00_ContentBody_LogBookPanel1_LogText"> <br /> A few more competitors came in and finally Joe came back as well, defeated by not having found #79. My gamble had paid off! #79 was indeed declared missing and I was the winner of the Individual Comp! The whole course ended up being less than 4 miles in length, and took around an hour and a half to complete. WAY shorter than last year's, which no one completed and took up the full 2.5 hours. Last year I had run over 8 miles! In some ways this is a good thing. It allows more people to finish the course and have more fun with the course, even if they aren't running hard. I also wasn't as tired or worn out for mty next competition, and I had some bonus time to go caching a little bit before the team comps. Which is exactly what I did. I called up team TKO, who were out caching already, and figured out a spot to meet them, and off I went.</span></div><div class="LogEntryText markdown-output" id="LogTextbox"><span id="ctl00_ContentBody_LogBookPanel1_LogText"><br /></span></div><div class="LogEntryText markdown-output" id="LogTextbox"><span id="ctl00_ContentBody_LogBookPanel1_LogText">Caching with TKO, or as they are better known when they are caching together, PLSF for Possible Lost Sequoia Fairy is a riot. Those guys had a list of hard D/T rating caches, virtuals and earthcaches, and other fun and interesting caches to go after in the Manhattan area. I hadn't prepared at all for caching in the area, so it was great for me to just tag along and help try to find things. Also, they are all just funny and fun people to hang out with. We ended up scoring 5 or six caches before we needed to be at the competition area again. </span></div><div class="LogEntryText markdown-output" id="LogTextbox"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iehWFEaeFik/WQOXvCJ80-I/AAAAAAAAVZU/BweWl6_aQpUZtXPONPK-oMyHwIN3F4cGQCKgB/s1600/20170422_142506.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iehWFEaeFik/WQOXvCJ80-I/AAAAAAAAVZU/BweWl6_aQpUZtXPONPK-oMyHwIN3F4cGQCKgB/s640/20170422_142506.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="LogEntryText markdown-output" id="LogTextbox"><span id="ctl00_ContentBody_LogBookPanel1_LogText">Once back at the Ranch, we got our maps and punch cards and strategized over a picnic lunch. The course for the 4-man comp was more or less the same size as the individual, which meant one thing: it was going to be fast! We sat down as a team and developed our plan. The course divided up pretty nicely into 4 quadrants, with two involving a bit more distance, but slightly fewer caches to find. Marty and I took the longer distance routes, and Kim and Tom took the closer routes with more caches. There was one outlier cache, T13, which didn't really fit into any route, but was also fairly close to the finish area. We decided that this one would be captured by whoever returned to the finish area first. Hopefully, while this person was grabbing this last one, the other members would be coming in and we would all finish around the same time.</span></div><div class="LogEntryText markdown-output" id="LogTextbox"></div><div class="LogEntryText markdown-output" id="LogTextbox"><span id="ctl00_ContentBody_LogBookPanel1_LogText">As with the Individual Comp, the race started with a group picture, and then a brief count-down. At the start Marty and I were running next to eachother, which was a little odd, because he was supposed to take off in a slightly different direction than I was going. He figured that out quickly enough though and we soon separated. I was following behind another fast geocacher, the CherryCacher, but we spit up too choosing to go after different first caches. My first stop was T57, and I got there pretty quickly. But after a few frantic minutes of searching I couldn't find the bugger, so I decided to go to the next one and see if I could get this one on my way back, when maybe more other cachers would be clustered around it. I ran over to T27 where the CherryCacher was searching and joined him. Less than a minute late two more cachers showed up and they <i>finally</i> found the cache. I waited my turn to punch in, then was off up the hills to my next prize. it seemed like I was the first cacher to tackle the high hills caches, and for the most part I was running on my own. I quickly found all the caches up on the top prairie and started running back to T57 to try to find that one. on the way I got a hint from CharryCacher that it was on the ground. Thanks man! When i showed up this time, it was a quick and easy find. I then ran over to the last cache in my quadrant, found it, and almost a second later got a call from Kim. Kim had just finished her area and was heading back to find T13. That meant all i had to do was run to the finish area and wait for the rest of my team.</span></div><div class="LogEntryText markdown-output" id="LogTextbox"><span id="ctl00_ContentBody_LogBookPanel1_LogText"><br /></span></div><div class="LogEntryText markdown-output" id="LogTextbox"><span id="ctl00_ContentBody_LogBookPanel1_LogText">Unlike the Individual Comp, there were already competitors at the finish area when I ran in. But there was nothing I could do but sit and wait. I did learn that two of the folks waiting there were on the same team, and on a team with Joe and the CherryCacher. The CherryCacher came in a few minutes later and they were looking like a shoe-in to win at that point. I thought about texting out to my team mates to see if I could help, but decided that probably would just add confusion, so i patiently sat and waited. Kim finally showed up and she had heard from the other members of our team. Apparently Marty was having trouble finding one of his, so Tom, who had finished his route, had gone over to help Marty find his last one. While we were figuring all this out, Joe, the last member of the other team came running in. Their team quickly sat down to double check that all punches were completed, then turned in their cards. There final time was ~37 minutes!</span></div><div class="LogEntryText markdown-output" id="LogTextbox"><span id="ctl00_ContentBody_LogBookPanel1_LogText"></span></div><div class="LogEntryText markdown-output" id="LogTextbox"><span id="ctl00_ContentBody_LogBookPanel1_LogText"></span></div><div class="LogEntryText markdown-output" id="LogTextbox"><span id="ctl00_ContentBody_LogBookPanel1_LogText"></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0dcUMYDVDM8/WQObNxDREmI/AAAAAAAAVZk/1L7TA3n2AOkG4sNrROnIsdSZRr-GC8JPwCKgB/s1600/20170422_141457.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0dcUMYDVDM8/WQObNxDREmI/AAAAAAAAVZk/1L7TA3n2AOkG4sNrROnIsdSZRr-GC8JPwCKgB/s320/20170422_141457.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The winning team: League of Extraordinary Gentlemen</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="LogEntryText markdown-output" id="LogTextbox"><span id="ctl00_ContentBody_LogBookPanel1_LogText">So it didn't look like we would win, unless there was a strange fluke (hey one happenned last year), but Kim and I were still hoping to see Tom and Marty come charging down the hill to the finish area. Marty came in first, and Tom was only a short ways behind. We cheered them in, gathered our cards together and handed them in. Our time was ~46 minutes. Fast, but not fast enough.</span></div><div class="LogEntryText markdown-output" id="LogTextbox"><span id="ctl00_ContentBody_LogBookPanel1_LogText"></span></div><div class="LogEntryText markdown-output" id="LogTextbox"></div><div class="LogEntryText markdown-output" id="LogTextbox"><span id="ctl00_ContentBody_LogBookPanel1_LogText">With the team competition over so quickly, we had a bunch of extra time for some more caching, so off we went to find a few more of the areas interesting hides.</span></div><div class="LogEntryText markdown-output" id="LogTextbox"><span id="ctl00_ContentBody_LogBookPanel1_LogText"></span></div><div class="LogEntryText markdown-output" id="LogTextbox"><span id="ctl00_ContentBody_LogBookPanel1_LogText"></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-x82oaUgDg6Q/WQObIhTXz_I/AAAAAAAAVZg/dtmTJSqZBrY3hZ76PAXvb5LqagRq8n6fwCKgB/s1600/20170422_160742.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-x82oaUgDg6Q/WQObIhTXz_I/AAAAAAAAVZg/dtmTJSqZBrY3hZ76PAXvb5LqagRq8n6fwCKgB/s320/20170422_160742.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pilsbury Falls</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hta-FkD2bj0/WQObIonnpjI/AAAAAAAAVZg/c0sOZJaw0i0ilEDJxDOH0kiVAL84PTOKgCKgB/s1600/20170422_160747.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hta-FkD2bj0/WQObIonnpjI/AAAAAAAAVZg/c0sOZJaw0i0ilEDJxDOH0kiVAL84PTOKgCKgB/s320/20170422_160747.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Of course its an Earthcache!</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WKSooA_svfo/WQObX4WOTAI/AAAAAAAAVZo/xd7VSrIxTbcU78e8yU9cOrMORfyRmEBxACKgB/s1600/20170422_154005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WKSooA_svfo/WQObX4WOTAI/AAAAAAAAVZo/xd7VSrIxTbcU78e8yU9cOrMORfyRmEBxACKgB/s320/20170422_154005.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Konzaga Prairie, another fine earthcache</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Idil2YT-k9M/WQObee_rJcI/AAAAAAAAVZs/FCGkKgqMAn0x7Nca2RNmxT9qGP255bDtQCKgB/s1600/20170422_165932.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Idil2YT-k9M/WQObee_rJcI/AAAAAAAAVZs/FCGkKgqMAn0x7Nca2RNmxT9qGP255bDtQCKgB/s320/20170422_165932.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">PLSF work on extracting an urban cache with a high D rating. Never would have gotten this one on my own, required a special TOTT</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="LogEntryText markdown-output" id="LogTextbox"><span id="ctl00_ContentBody_LogBookPanel1_LogText">After some good caches found, I went back to the hotel to shower up and look for ticks. Thankfully none! We then all had dinner at a local bard/grill before heading over to the <a href="https://coord.info/GC6A1AA">MOGA award ceremony</a>. We arrived just in time for me to learn I had a winning raffle ticket. My prize was a cool Russian Ammo Can! If we had been much later the prize would have been given out to someone else, so our timing was perfect. Well, a little less than perfect, because no one on the PLSF crew had even had a chance to enter their raffle tickets into any of the drawings. They were too late... bummer. The award ceremony was much better run then last year's, with each contest being called out promptly and photos being taken off to the side while new winners were being called up.&nbsp; As they were calling out the individual competition results, they passed over my age category for some reason, and I remarked to Marty "Why would they do that, it's not like the overall winner of the individual competition gets anything special." Or at least, that is what I thought. After calling out the 2nd and 3rd place finishers, the MC declared that this year, for the first time, they were presenting a new Cup for the overall individual Competition winner. It would be named in honor of a geocacher who had been instrumental in getting MOGA started, and who had passed away recently. And then they called me up! I was the first recipient of the new MOGA Individual Cup!&nbsp;</span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4T_oupgWRvQ/WQOgI3SylmI/AAAAAAAAVZ4/zIs8jDm3zCIEMsHsYf7-7gkvmPkLgi0gACKgB/s1600/20170422_191622.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4T_oupgWRvQ/WQOgI3SylmI/AAAAAAAAVZ4/zIs8jDm3zCIEMsHsYf7-7gkvmPkLgi0gACKgB/s320/20170422_191622.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">MOGA 2017 crowd</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="LogEntryText markdown-output" id="LogTextbox"><span id="ctl00_ContentBody_LogBookPanel1_LogText"> When they got to the group competition, we knew what to expect, but I was still secretly hoping that somehow we had won. Up until they called team TKO up for 2nd place that is. We all went up to receive our medals, which are pretty darn cool. Then sat down as they announced the new MOGA cup winners, the team that had beaten us by nearly 10 minutes. We had run a good race, but they had run it faster. After that there was only one thing left to do. Hit the hot-tub!</span><span id="ctl00_ContentBody_LogBookPanel1_LogText"> Nothing like a hot-tub and a cooler of drinks to relax after a long day of caching and competing.<br /> </span> </div>Aaron Hobsonhttps://plus.google.com/103044856479168567706noreply@blogger.com02103 Zeandale Rd, Manhattan, KS 66502, USA39.159383 -96.5095499999999913.637348499999998 -137.818144 64.6814175 -55.200955999999991tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6916034258386603581.post-56347620872167330312017-04-21T07:31:00.000-07:002017-04-28T07:32:38.446-07:00The Road To MOGA 2017<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-P5KRTMZS1zU/WQNRVJB0ieI/AAAAAAAAVX0/OUd7duM8hoIk0iZ23Qb5eC37MZ-8vN7YQCKgB/s1600/20170421_063200.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-P5KRTMZS1zU/WQNRVJB0ieI/AAAAAAAAVX0/OUd7duM8hoIk0iZ23Qb5eC37MZ-8vN7YQCKgB/s400/20170421_063200.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />For weeks I had been looking forward to participating in MOGA. That enthusiasm was only partly dampened by catching a virus from my son, leaving me with fevers, chills, head-aches and loads of phlegm. I had warned my team-mates about my sickness, and we had a replacement ready to go, but I was still determined to make it out to Manhattan, Kansas, and compete again. So early Friday morning, I blearily said goodbye to my wife, quietly kissed the sleeping kids on their foreheads and hit the road.<br /><br />As any geocacher will tell you, long road trips aren't all that bad. There are almost always opportunities to find some cool caches along the way. This trip was no exception. I would be traveling mostly on smaller state highways, through the Northeast corner of New Mexico, the panhandle of Oklahoma, and through a giant hypotenuse of Kansas. Most of New Mexico passed while it was still dark, but the sun finally rose as I was passing Springer, NM. This part of New Mexico is pretty flat, although not flat by Kansas standards I suppose. There are prairies and gentle rolling hills, and usually a taller butte off in the distance. I spotted several herds of antelope along the road, and the morning dew soon rose into the air creating a gentle fog that made for a pleasant driving ambiance. I made my first pit-stop in Clayton, NM, for gas, a little breakfast burrito, and of course a geocache. The geocache I found was part of the Santa Fe trail, and I was hoping I would be able to find more of this <a href="https://www.geocaching.com/play/geotours/santa-fe-trail">Geotour</a> since my route followed it pretty closely.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-o6LiqAbMIXA/WQNRerbnVrI/AAAAAAAAVX4/JHAqwPY--QYuwn43LyYej0peiXb0ha33QCKgB/s1600/20170421_074918.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-o6LiqAbMIXA/WQNRerbnVrI/AAAAAAAAVX4/JHAqwPY--QYuwn43LyYej0peiXb0ha33QCKgB/s320/20170421_074918.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />My next stops came pretty soon after since there was an interesting <a href="https://coord.info/GC9374">Virtual cache</a> located at the tristate marker between Oklahoma, NM and Texas. I also grabbed a nearby traditional where I picked up a TB that had been left by some other MOGA-2017-bound geocachers that I had met in Santa Fe just a few days before. I was definitely traveling in their tire-tracks. There are actually a number of other geocaching points of interest in this little corner of the country, including Black mesa, the high-point of Oklahoma, and Point of Rocks, KS, another interesting stop along the Santa Fe Trail. All of these interesting spots were many miles off my route though, and would have required hours of additional travel time. Since I still had a <i>long</i> ways to go, I left these detour trips for some other time (if ever). Perhaps if I was to make the same trip over 2 days, I would have hit up these other spots. Oh well.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bGyfkKdUaw4/WQNRrtG38qI/AAAAAAAAVX8/HIF2kflxELAK7B5OSTnKQEKx-hNyoEuyQCKgB/s1600/20170421_090542.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bGyfkKdUaw4/WQNRrtG38qI/AAAAAAAAVX8/HIF2kflxELAK7B5OSTnKQEKx-hNyoEuyQCKgB/s320/20170421_090542.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wf2AHv6sYTU/WQNRrpJmiZI/AAAAAAAAVX8/aJAsuC37Qhg4fs3uK_Ewla6lHssIrzT6gCKgB/s1600/20170421_090553.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wf2AHv6sYTU/WQNRrpJmiZI/AAAAAAAAVX8/aJAsuC37Qhg4fs3uK_Ewla6lHssIrzT6gCKgB/s320/20170421_090553.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tri-state corner</td></tr></tbody></table><br />I was only in Oklahoma for less than an hour. Kansas would be the majority of my drive, and Kansas was flat. Big and flat. The highway I was on was a small state highway, just two lanes going opposing directions. The towns were spread pretty far apart, and SW Kansas towns seemed to be extremely rural. Farms lined the road just about everywhere, and there wasn't a whole lot to look at most of the time. I burned through quite a few podcasts during this portion of my drive. I also eagerly looked forward to the handful of interesting geocaches I had tagged as being worthy stops along my way. one was at a massive <a href="https://coord.info/GC7023">wind-farm</a>. Another at a rural <a href="https://coord.info/GC66C4">sod-house museum</a> at a town that claimed to be the mid-point of America. A third was at <a href="https://coord.info/GC39ED">Pawnee Rock</a>, which to someone from NM, seemed to be a rather unremarkable rock outcropping, but for West Kansas, was a pretty big deal as a landmark. Pawnee rock was also a stop along the Santa Fe Trail, and while I was there I ran across another NM geocacher team who were on their way to MOGA as well. All these little stops help make the long drive a little more bearable, providing milestone goals along the route, things to look forward to in the next 50-100 miles.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XoOVOmbVHi4/WQNR3Sq_gpI/AAAAAAAAVYA/wh-oodwHinw-RxBGsoq2WDasHhgE69hrwCKgB/s1600/20170421_120611.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XoOVOmbVHi4/WQNR3Sq_gpI/AAAAAAAAVYA/wh-oodwHinw-RxBGsoq2WDasHhgE69hrwCKgB/s320/20170421_120611.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Windfarm</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pKzHgKkaGb8/WQNR3VIMVFI/AAAAAAAAVYA/6Df7jpKMucY8Vk-9osuSLI0eE_jYTXTFgCKgB/s1600/20170421_131049.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pKzHgKkaGb8/WQNR3VIMVFI/AAAAAAAAVYA/6Df7jpKMucY8Vk-9osuSLI0eE_jYTXTFgCKgB/s320/20170421_131049.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Midway America?</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Y3O41U8ESMI/WQNR3cMdmiI/AAAAAAAAVYA/iHEu35V4t80x6q9oEmhtIhESzxQZbUhDgCKgB/s1600/20170421_140347.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="102" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Y3O41U8ESMI/WQNR3cMdmiI/AAAAAAAAVYA/iHEu35V4t80x6q9oEmhtIhESzxQZbUhDgCKgB/s640/20170421_140347.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pawnee Rock</td></tr></tbody></table><br />At around 5pm I finally drove into the bustling little city of Manhattan, KS, and quickly found the event hotel. The place was packed and thrumming with geocachers, as the <a href="https://coord.info/GC7211Q">Packet pick-Up event</a> had just started. I checked into my room, then stood in line for my packet. The number of geocachers i ran into that I recognized kind of surprised me. I'm not that much of a social geocacher, but there were loads of people from east Tennessee, and a fair number of NM cachers that I knew and I tried to say hi to everyone. I also ended up talking to some Groundspeak Lackeys, Moun10bike and RockChalk, which was pretty cool. I knew both of them by reputation only, and I tried my best to talk them into competing in the MOGA events.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-a6hu4F1WYVU/WQNSOUg35QI/AAAAAAAAVYE/8xqr9F1O6BkbdZA_nzxHsxm2styRJCy0wCKgB/s1600/20170421_171635.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-a6hu4F1WYVU/WQNSOUg35QI/AAAAAAAAVYE/8xqr9F1O6BkbdZA_nzxHsxm2styRJCy0wCKgB/s320/20170421_171635.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Quieting down at the MOGA central</td></tr></tbody></table><br />The folks I was really looking forward to seeing though were my team, TKO, and I had to leave the event and drive over to a local brewery to meet up with them. Nothing beats meeting up with good friends over drinks and hearty food. And the best part was, my flu symptoms seemed to be fading. I had been checking my temperature throughout the drive and was usually in the 100-102F range. But I was feeling better now that I was eating real food and hanging out with friends. I was still coughing a bit, and had gobs of phlegm. But what can you do. I was committed to race and that was that.<br /><br />My team was up for some more geocaching that night, but I was wiped, so I said my goodbye and made a bee-line straight to my hotel bed, where I practically fell asleep in my clothes. Aaron Hobsonhttps://plus.google.com/103044856479168567706noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6916034258386603581.post-50682040773449465132017-04-16T07:46:00.000-07:002017-04-28T07:53:56.890-07:00One last training run for MOGA<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FHEvNn7RxMU/WQNVxRSYwPI/AAAAAAAAVYQ/pJmafSITqnE3-rQyZepzlGvK5_Tr_NHEQCKgB/s1600/20170416_101928.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="108" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FHEvNn7RxMU/WQNVxRSYwPI/AAAAAAAAVYQ/pJmafSITqnE3-rQyZepzlGvK5_Tr_NHEQCKgB/s640/20170416_101928.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Panorama view from Tetilla Peak</td></tr></tbody></table>I had a chance to do one more training run for the MOGA comps coming up, and much like my last training run, I chose a geo-art out in the deserts west of Santa Fe. This one was called the <a href="https://coord.info/GC6K6NP">Bajada Arrowhead</a>, and consisted of 18 caches out in cholla filled plains. The hides were much easier than the Geo-circle, all PVC pipes sticking out of the ground and for the most part very obvious to spot. So the training was mostly just me running around in the desert for an hour. After completing the art, I decided to hike up the nearby <a href="https://coord.info/GC72RZ5">Tetilla Peak</a>.&nbsp; This made for a nice little finale to my training run, but was actually pretty tough on my dog. I forget how she is getting older and has a much harder time on rugged off-trail terrain. She was absolutely wiped at the top, and I ended up taking a different route down that was longer, but on more roads/trails. Poor girl.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rgvt6N3MZP0/WQNXdN0zP6I/AAAAAAAAVYc/cOg9ssGoWd8dv_iPrRNSRWv7KJrA8XZ_gCKgB/s1600/20170416_101825.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rgvt6N3MZP0/WQNXdN0zP6I/AAAAAAAAVYc/cOg9ssGoWd8dv_iPrRNSRWv7KJrA8XZ_gCKgB/s320/20170416_101825.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><br />Aaron Hobsonhttps://plus.google.com/103044856479168567706noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6916034258386603581.post-85005071288891738072017-04-10T07:59:00.000-07:002017-04-28T08:01:58.515-07:00Passover GeocachingNearly every year we visit the Washington DC area for our family Passover gathering. I always try to find a few caches while there, and this year I was able to rope some other family into helping me find caches including my brother and his wife, and my nephews.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9tErV7Nmbn8/WQNYgoqbrPI/AAAAAAAAVYo/X5indMv3AUgJmU_8An6i9kXp60msDjeEwCKgB/s1600/20170411_131450%25280%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9tErV7Nmbn8/WQNYgoqbrPI/AAAAAAAAVYo/X5indMv3AUgJmU_8An6i9kXp60msDjeEwCKgB/s400/20170411_131450%25280%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My son and his cousin at one of the geocaches we found</td></tr></tbody></table>Mainly, wee just needed some outside time in the nearby parks to allow the kids some time to blow off steam, and run around in the woods. The fact that I scored a set of water-pistols from one of the geocaches was just a lucky happenstance.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0_pv3biwh7c/WQNZFEBb3FI/AAAAAAAAVYw/Q8Rk0gIkG64RhoRpFxuIG20-9vzI8ASnACKgB/s1600/20170409_144739.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0_pv3biwh7c/WQNZFEBb3FI/AAAAAAAAVYw/Q8Rk0gIkG64RhoRpFxuIG20-9vzI8ASnACKgB/s320/20170409_144739.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My bro climbing through thorns to look for a cache we couldn't find.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8fvebXqEHjU/WQNZFBaJgpI/AAAAAAAAVYw/Jw54JZ5l3uYel6krh-uO9HgSo-RGljvYgCKgB/s1600/20170408_161239.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8fvebXqEHjU/WQNZFBaJgpI/AAAAAAAAVYw/Jw54JZ5l3uYel6krh-uO9HgSo-RGljvYgCKgB/s320/20170408_161239.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My son near a cache at the base of an abandoned fire tower.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rjbN92laxcM/WQNZFEKrKpI/AAAAAAAAVYw/WluQREmlqTo-E1ng1R2b5w7DxVZsYNZIwCKgB/s1600/20170408_152640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rjbN92laxcM/WQNZFEKrKpI/AAAAAAAAVYw/WluQREmlqTo-E1ng1R2b5w7DxVZsYNZIwCKgB/s320/20170408_152640.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The kids monkeying around at Meadowside Park</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-S1bKoaadhVw/WQNZFLow8uI/AAAAAAAAVYw/3UMCo6qb9yY_hD8cQwKPk2U2g9fAT-PrACKgB/s1600/20170408_144746.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-S1bKoaadhVw/WQNZFLow8uI/AAAAAAAAVYw/3UMCo6qb9yY_hD8cQwKPk2U2g9fAT-PrACKgB/s320/20170408_144746.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My intrepid caching companion</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Aaron Hobsonhttps://plus.google.com/103044856479168567706noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6916034258386603581.post-51891295206209912252017-03-31T13:06:00.000-07:002017-03-31T13:06:22.729-07:00Earworms!Sometimes, an idea for a geocache just hits you and you think, "I have to do this somewhere". That idea sits around for a good long time, and you think about different ways of execution, come up with improvements, and generally dream about how cool this geocache is going to be. And time slips by... For one reason or another, the right place, and right time, and right equipment doesn't present itself. But the idea persists. And eventually, you get it together: the parts, the location, the theme. Everything falls into place and the cache is published, and it is awesome!<br /><br />One of my most recent caches was this idea, <a href="https://coord.info/GC70M9E">GC70M9E</a>. If you happen to live in Northern New Mexico, and don't want to have this cache spoiled for you since you may actually go find it, then read no further. However, I'm gonna blog about it anyways, just cause.<br /><br />SPOILERS BELOW KEEP SCROLLING IF YOU WANT TO SEE THE REST OF THIS POST.<br /><div style="text-align: center;">***</div><div style="text-align: center;">***</div><div style="text-align: center;">***</div><div style="text-align: center;">***</div><div style="text-align: center;">***</div><div style="text-align: center;">***</div><div style="text-align: center;">***</div><div style="text-align: center;">***</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">***</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">***</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">***</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">***</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">***</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">***</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">***</div><div style="text-align: center;">******</div><div style="text-align: center;">***</div><div style="text-align: left;">The idea that struck me some time back in 2013 had to do with a song that was stuck in my head.</div><blockquote class="tr_bq"><i>Miles from nowhere <br />I guess I'll take my time <br />Oh yeah, to reach there </i>&nbsp;</blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq"><i>Look up at the mountain <br />I have to climb <br />Oh yeah, to reach there. </i>&nbsp;</blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq"><i>Lord my body has been a good friend <br />But I won't need it when I reach the end </i>&nbsp;</blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq"><i>Miles from nowhere <br />I guess I'll take my time <br />Oh yeah, to reach there </i>&nbsp;</blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq"><i>I creep through the valleys <br />And I grope through the woods <br />'Cause I know when I find it my honey <br />It's gonna make me feel good, yes...</i></blockquote>Maybe you recognize the song, an old Cat Stevens one. It got stuck in my head while I was out geocaching. I can't remember exactly where I was, but I was probably, <i>miles from nowhere</i> and <i>climbing up a mountain</i> in order to find a geocache and <i>make me feel good</i>. This song has geocaching written all over it. And it would get stuck in my head over and over as I was out hiking towards geocaches. It occurred to me finally that it would make a rather nice multi cache. The verses are broken up in such a way that you could have a verse for each stage. Ideally, it would be placed on a remote mountain top, miles from any nearby town, and requiring a good long hike, say 15 miles round trip. This was my original concept for a pretty straight forward multi cache. And at the time, I was living in Southern New Mexico where there are mountain ranges that are very remote, and were just perfect for a cache like this. But then I got some more ideas... what if I put a small voice recorder in the final so that when someone found the cache, they could hear the entire song, and also record their own song. This idea really grabbed hold of me, despite the fact that it requires a bit more investment in materials. How cool would it be to hear what songs get stuck in other people's heads?<br /><br />I was starting to look at materials to make this cache a reality when we found out that we would be moving to Tennessee. The last thing I wanted to do was place more caches in an area that I wouldn't be able to maintain once we moved. Also, I wouldn't be able to come back and hear the songs people left. That was one of my prime motivators. So I sat on the idea. In Tennessee, the landscape just didn't seem to be right. Yes there were mountains, but they weren't as big, nor were they as easy to see from far away, nor were they miles from nowhere. There are a lot more little towns in the east.<br /><br />As luck would have it, we recently moved back to New Mexico, so I started thinking about the idea again. I purchased a DVR (digital voice recorder), and a good final container, and I began scouting maps for a good place to hide this cache. Originally, I wanted this cache to be really remote, a true "miles from nowhere" kind of cache. But the more I thought about it, the more I wanted to make it somewhere that I could check on frequently. My sights turned to one of Santa Fe's local hills, Moon Mountain. Located right in town, but apparently a location that has never had a geocache on it. It wasn't really "miles from nowhere", but it was a decent little mountain, requiring a couple miles of hiking, and I would be able to run up and check on it really easily. Plus, being in an urban location would give it a bit of a better chance of actually getting found, and with the investment I was putting into this, I really wanted it to be found more than just a couple times (like my Organ Saint series, sigh....).<br /><br />The final push for me to get this idea out was when another geocacher published a cache on Moon mountain, scooping my spot! <a href="https://coord.info/GC70D5M">GC70D5M</a> was published and my first reaction was to assume that my spot was gone, and that I had waited too long. But on closer inspection, I realized that there was room enough on the summit of Moon mountain. So got my containers together, put together the geocaching.com listing and my Earworm Multi was born! <a href="https://coord.info/GC70M9E">GC70M9E</a>! So far it has been found by two geocachers, and I have already ran up to the summit to listen to the earworms that get stuck in other people's heads. Awesome! Now that it is in the real world, I am even more excited about it than when it was just an idea in my head.Aaron Hobsonhttps://plus.google.com/103044856479168567706noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6916034258386603581.post-24311289286885819892017-03-10T07:05:00.000-08:002017-03-11T07:05:25.431-08:00Consolation HikeA few weeks back I was contacted by DesertRomantic about going after a really cool, and yet unfound, canyoneering Geocache,&nbsp;<a href="https://coord.info/GC5WZF4">GC5WZF4</a>. I've been eyeing this cache for a while, so I jumped at the opportunity. The day came that we were to head out for this adventure. i had all the gear I thought we would need: 50m of rope, etriers, ascenders webbing, rappel device, plenty of biners... We were set for hopefully anything this canyon would throw at us. At least that is what we thought. Turns out there was one thing we hadn't counted on. Roads. The turn off from the tiny town of Galina was on French Mesa Road, also known as FR 8. Not even a mile up this road, we encountered quite a bit of snow on the road. And the sections of road not covered in snow were thick mud from recently melted snow. I drove my CR-V through a few patches of this but stopped short at a particularly muddy section. Checking the GPS, there was still &gt;8 miles of this road to go. It was clear to us that if we continued, there was a very high probability that we would get stuck. As much as we didn't like to, the best option would be to turn around and leave this cache for later in the year, when the roads are better.<br /><br />So what to do? We were far from home, and rearing to go do ... something. One nearby destination immediately sprang to mind, Cerro Pedernal.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-n9x_i7ShTQY/WMQPlNw_iHI/AAAAAAAAUp4/DN4kqI7gbW8k93molf7B3TiUFY8xzr3_QCLcB/s1600/20170310_154445.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-n9x_i7ShTQY/WMQPlNw_iHI/AAAAAAAAUp4/DN4kqI7gbW8k93molf7B3TiUFY8xzr3_QCLcB/s400/20170310_154445.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cerro Pedernal in the Distance. A striking peak.</td></tr></tbody></table>I first saw Cerro Pedernal last summer when the family was visiting Abiquiu lake. It is uncommonly pictaresque. And I knew I wanted to hike up it. Luckily DesertRomantic also wanted to hike it, so it became our Consolation Hike. The road up to Cerro Pedernal, FR 100, was in fine shape, and we were soon at a point where we could begin the ~3 mile hike up to the summit.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cPWmmvjFBbU/WMQPgleCvPI/AAAAAAAAUqI/E_zQOUmvZVA_9mFe3-FC_vC883Uzq7vCgCEw/s1600/20170310_113336.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cPWmmvjFBbU/WMQPgleCvPI/AAAAAAAAUqI/E_zQOUmvZVA_9mFe3-FC_vC883Uzq7vCgCEw/s320/20170310_113336.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The one scrambly bit</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lTge0T-DkF4/WMQPjL4jyjI/AAAAAAAAUqI/R1tVc2VRk6MI2SQXeEfrqh1RfNx0rPgKACEw/s1600/20170310_124622.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lTge0T-DkF4/WMQPjL4jyjI/AAAAAAAAUqI/R1tVc2VRk6MI2SQXeEfrqh1RfNx0rPgKACEw/s320/20170310_124622.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Below the headwall</td></tr></tbody></table>Cerro Pedernal is actually a misleading peak. From afar it looks like it should be a huge mesa top. But in actuality, the summit is a narrow rocky ridge, basically a 200-300 ft high rock wall that tops off the mountain. From some angles it doesn't look like a mesa at all, rather a rocky spire. When we got up to the final headwall we weren't too sure which way to go around the summit wall to find a way up. We started off heading around the north side, only to get stopped by deep snow. So we back-tracked to the south side where we found an easy scramble through the headwall and up to the top. The summit is about a third of a mile from end to end, and offers some incredible views. We ate lunch on the east end, gazing out at the Rocky Mountains in the distance.<br /><br />We completed the hike in good time and still had a bit time left in the afternoon, so we did one more little hike in the area. I had wanted to go after some unfound caches placed by Desert Romantic, but he had a better idea, to hike up the Rim Vista Trail across from the Ghost Ranch. This trail had a handful of very lonely geocaches and ended up being a fine late evening jaunt.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AwnIdhKDSfg/WMQPlCEcuZI/AAAAAAAAUqI/9WcNnaycB6cMgJM1CpkjpS4sNVHOqQpBQCEw/s1600/20170310_143024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AwnIdhKDSfg/WMQPlCEcuZI/AAAAAAAAUqI/9WcNnaycB6cMgJM1CpkjpS4sNVHOqQpBQCEw/s320/20170310_143024.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rim Vista Trail</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WvDoqF6RSgs/WMQPmtsYwzI/AAAAAAAAUqI/19i8DWjowccxU-iUXq6GN8P8RjMw4GdiACEw/s1600/20170310_155053.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WvDoqF6RSgs/WMQPmtsYwzI/AAAAAAAAUqI/19i8DWjowccxU-iUXq6GN8P8RjMw4GdiACEw/s320/20170310_155053.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pastel Cliffs near the Rim Vista trail</td></tr></tbody></table>I still really want to visit Big Canyon, but considering we weren't able to do that, we ended up having a pretty good hiking day.Aaron Hobsonhttps://plus.google.com/103044856479168567706noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6916034258386603581.post-21187484129931580602017-02-11T10:55:00.001-08:002017-02-11T10:55:27.477-08:00Training for MOGA 2017I registered to compete at MOGA again this year. After last years smashing success, I feel like there is some pressure to perform well again this year. <a href="https://coord.info/GC6A1AA">MOGA 2017 </a>is in Manhattan Kansas, about a 10 hour drive away. It's actually the furthest west that a MOGA event has ever been. I think if it had been further east I wouldn't even have considered going. I'll be teaming up with Lostsole, Sequioa and Kimpossible again and we'll be attempting to defend our title. So better get training....<br /><br />Just outside of Santa Fe is a nice geoart series in the shape of a <a href="https://coord.info/GC63X99">geo-circle</a> that seemed like it would be a perfect training run. The art consists of 25 caches spread out over about 6 miles of hiking/running. The terrain is hilly, juniper scrub and without many trails to utilize. Trying to find all these caches in the 2.5 hours given for a MOGA competition event would be my challenge.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SsHAmqf8_8k/WJ9dj0_6FiI/AAAAAAAAUbg/owVCYEQJ0fgYLNlc1aaaBHP671Fj1_SywCLcB/s1600/Geocircle%2BTrack.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SsHAmqf8_8k/WJ9dj0_6FiI/AAAAAAAAUbg/owVCYEQJ0fgYLNlc1aaaBHP671Fj1_SywCLcB/s640/Geocircle%2BTrack.jpg" width="576" /></a></div>I began my run at 7:25 am on a warm winters day. My first decision was to decide how to run the route. A classic <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Travelling_salesman_problem">traveling salesman</a>&nbsp;problem. But no fancy algorithms for me. Just gut intuition. The distance between each cache was usually .12 miles, which was just enough for me to get winded. The geocaches themselves were all bison tubes in trees, mostly junipers. These are not always easy to find and I spent as much time stopped at geocaches, searching, than I did running. The experience reminded me a lot of MOGA 2016 actually. Each cache on this geo-art is labeled Geo-#. The order of my finds was 20-21-22-23-24-25-9-10-6-5-1-2-11-12-13-14-15-8-7-16-17-18-19-3-4. It ended up taking me 2 hours and 22 minutes. On two of the caches I spent too long searching for the cache though. #17 I spent about 14 minutes searching for and finally found it. if this had been a MOGA competition I would have probably skipped it so that I would have more time to find other punches. And #4 I flat out didn't find. I initially spent 5 minutes searching before skipping it and going on to Geo 3. Then on my way back to my starting point I stopped and spent another 19 minutes searching. Those little bisons can be super elusive!<br /><br />All in all it was a good training run for MOGA though. I'll have to find another art to train like this again. One major difference though is that I expect the terrain in Kansas not to allow straight line connections between points. The juniper scrub out here is relatively open and without much real bushwhacking. Kansas will eb adifferent story and I will have to plan my routes to follow existing trails more... probably. That's what I did for MOGA 2016 in Ohio at least.Aaron Hobsonhttps://plus.google.com/103044856479168567706noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6916034258386603581.post-22448108512274974112016-12-29T12:39:00.000-08:002017-01-28T12:55:20.090-08:00Exploring the Cerillos Hills and finding treasure<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">A couple days ago, while the in-laws were still here visiting for the holidays, we drove down to <a href="http://www.emnrd.state.nm.us/SPD/cerrilloshillsstatepark.html">Cerillos Hills State Park</a>&nbsp;to explore a new area with them. While there we started the multi-cache, <a href="https://coord.info/GCJ4WQ">GCJ4WQ</a>, but after finding the last re-director stage, realized that the final was a further hike than anyone was willing to do. The area was pretty neat though, and perfect for winter hiking, so I was determined to come back. I got that opportunity pretty soon, the kids and I had to take off and leave my wife free to do some work at home, so I planned a day-trip back to the area with the kids, this time with a focus on geocaching. We stopped at several caches along the Turquoise Trail, State Highway NM 14. We were pleasnatly surprised that a bunch of these roadside caches weren't the typical tiny micro cache, but actually something large enough that they contained toys for the kids to trade.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In the town of Cerillos, the cache <a href="https://coord.info/GCVEJ9">GCVEJ9</a>&nbsp;brought us to a cool spot with a small petting zoo. This spot ended up being one of the highlights of the day for the kids.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ph_hsQquksA/WI0Ba5i67_I/AAAAAAAAUQU/bitZHVaIJrwt6SP-k1gPRLs2Kl8khafawCKgB/s1600/20161229_125145.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ph_hsQquksA/WI0Ba5i67_I/AAAAAAAAUQU/bitZHVaIJrwt6SP-k1gPRLs2Kl8khafawCKgB/s320/20161229_125145.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3bCffdVT3Xw/WI0Ba63HH4I/AAAAAAAAUQU/wi_AgDjmE1UO8zMwqdufunoVT5HeKNoFgCKgB/s1600/20161229_124635.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3bCffdVT3Xw/WI0Ba63HH4I/AAAAAAAAUQU/wi_AgDjmE1UO8zMwqdufunoVT5HeKNoFgCKgB/s320/20161229_124635.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oTrBTEmKhDc/WI0Ba06lEGI/AAAAAAAAUQU/hjBmHGakG-cbKfyfWqaTgRxVau95ds4EgCKgB/s1600/20161229_124422%25280%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oTrBTEmKhDc/WI0Ba06lEGI/AAAAAAAAUQU/hjBmHGakG-cbKfyfWqaTgRxVau95ds4EgCKgB/s320/20161229_124422%25280%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In one of the other caches in town, there were some pieces of real local turquoise, and the kids thought this was amazing. We definitely traded for a piece and my daughter now keeps it with her other treasures. Our hike brought us into the low hills and mines around the town. The trails were very kid friendly, and the cache was in excellent shape.</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CzkwuYrlW2s/WI0Ba4yRbZI/AAAAAAAAUQU/nsk6dgW517cn7AtuFDhL6eN93NTu2W8tACKgB/s1600/20161229_144531.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CzkwuYrlW2s/WI0Ba4yRbZI/AAAAAAAAUQU/nsk6dgW517cn7AtuFDhL6eN93NTu2W8tACKgB/s320/20161229_144531.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Abandoned mine in Cerillos Hills SP</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-W9v5OoO-gVQ/WI0Ba_ueZrI/AAAAAAAAUQU/CZ4VFtbeV5c2nJy3huE3GATprwOX0eepACKgB/s1600/20161229_143105%25280%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-W9v5OoO-gVQ/WI0Ba_ueZrI/AAAAAAAAUQU/CZ4VFtbeV5c2nJy3huE3GATprwOX0eepACKgB/s320/20161229_143105%25280%2529.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ada with her piece of Turquoise</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-i7-8hJjo9Ko/WI0Ba2vvhfI/AAAAAAAAUQU/syx1-YD_lpcbKtu3yCi94e4-RLZdDMy5QCKgB/s1600/20161229_143058.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-i7-8hJjo9Ko/WI0Ba2vvhfI/AAAAAAAAUQU/syx1-YD_lpcbKtu3yCi94e4-RLZdDMy5QCKgB/s320/20161229_143058.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Turquoise Treasure!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wPwbS8e6Vu8/WI0BayyTObI/AAAAAAAAUQU/gxiSvOdC49gxF6o8HLD4ztE4IhU2MvRUQCKgB/s1600/20161229_143049.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wPwbS8e6Vu8/WI0BayyTObI/AAAAAAAAUQU/gxiSvOdC49gxF6o8HLD4ztE4IhU2MvRUQCKgB/s320/20161229_143049.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iCSXr1Hgg9A/WI0BazI7w7I/AAAAAAAAUQU/aY-Bs_kYLignm_YdIx0_gJCh3jw-1-jpwCKgB/s1600/20161229_142656.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iCSXr1Hgg9A/WI0BazI7w7I/AAAAAAAAUQU/aY-Bs_kYLignm_YdIx0_gJCh3jw-1-jpwCKgB/s320/20161229_142656.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ada near one of our cache finds</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rxUfHv68u4E/WI0Ba97pIEI/AAAAAAAAUQU/XFsUfOh7yf8Y1oInomIJ94bjMwlJCb8eQCKgB/s1600/20161229_142650.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rxUfHv68u4E/WI0Ba97pIEI/AAAAAAAAUQU/XFsUfOh7yf8Y1oInomIJ94bjMwlJCb8eQCKgB/s320/20161229_142650.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the deeper abandoned mines we encountered</td></tr></tbody></table>&nbsp;This cache (<a href="https://coord.info/GCJ4WQ">GC4WQ</a>) had a Haiku theme, encouraging finders to write a haiku in the logbook. I came up with something that I thought sounded poetic, but probably is pretty silly sounding. But one particular log caught our attention and is now one of the kids favorite poems. It goes like this:<br /><br /><blockquote class="tr_bq"><i>Snake snake snake snake snake</i>&nbsp;</blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq"><i>I don't want to see a snake</i></blockquote><blockquote><i>OMG Hiss Hiss&nbsp;</i></blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>&nbsp;It felt really nice to spend the day out caching with the kids. We used to do this kind of outing quite a bit but recently it seems that I do most of my geocaching trips on my own (and with rugged hikes). Maybe a combination of the kdis losing interest in geocaching, or rather having more interest in things like Pokemon GO. Regardless, we all enjoyed the day and I think we'll be doing more of these trips in the future.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />Aaron Hobsonhttps://plus.google.com/103044856479168567706noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6916034258386603581.post-72458799546150005122016-12-18T12:28:00.000-08:002017-01-28T12:28:19.126-08:00Back into the LCP game<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HU1WthlY4LU/WIzjBxq7YfI/AAAAAAAAUP8/lJV23luJGGwgqFDxbHfOrrLP5YfpWq7SgCKgB/s1600/20161218_074453.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HU1WthlY4LU/WIzjBxq7YfI/AAAAAAAAUP8/lJV23luJGGwgqFDxbHfOrrLP5YfpWq7SgCKgB/s320/20161218_074453.jpg" width="180" /></a><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-x22ZSJ6ZNwg/WIzjB0Or6zI/AAAAAAAAUP8/ftkZh5yIewseKtJvFEMt6hv7RKnVkntqQCKgB/s1600/20161218_091403.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-x22ZSJ6ZNwg/WIzjB0Or6zI/AAAAAAAAUP8/ftkZh5yIewseKtJvFEMt6hv7RKnVkntqQCKgB/s400/20161218_091403.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />One of the tings that I was sad about when we moved from NM to TN was that we would no longer live in an area covered by the <a href="http://www.lonelycache.com/">Lonely Cache Project</a>&nbsp;(LCP). That site had been a strong motivating factor for my geocaching, getting me to visit very remote and lonely caches,a s well as encouraging me to spend hours trying to crack some of the harder puzzles. The leaderboards in particular were fun for me, especially the ones where I was somewhat competitive. One of my favorite was the <a href="http://www.lonelycache.com/YearsTop.aspx?brd=71&amp;yr=2017&amp;rgn=5">NM Year's Top Back Country Cachers</a> leaderboard. In <a href="http://www.lonelycache.com/YearsTop.aspx?brd=71&amp;yr=2013&amp;rgn=5">2013</a> I was in a tight race for the top spot, a race that ended up coming down to the last few weeks of the year. This year, I was at a disadvantage having only moved back to the state in July, but I was going to make an effort to place high. After a few very remote FTFs, I was able to get in the top 5.<br /><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iCDiqFZsZ2U/WIzjB2NvHMI/AAAAAAAAUP8/8rUETlKmfnIDSXyla1ZrhYXs7J_UM5GUQCKgB/s1600/20161218_082559.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iCDiqFZsZ2U/WIzjB2NvHMI/AAAAAAAAUP8/8rUETlKmfnIDSXyla1ZrhYXs7J_UM5GUQCKgB/s320/20161218_082559.jpg" width="240" /></a><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-a7Ibe2AnLUo/WIzjBz1ZjfI/AAAAAAAAUP8/KaO1zL-BxhEWaSSERP6hPeb4GdznHkXPQCKgB/s1600/20161218_091034.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-a7Ibe2AnLUo/WIzjBz1ZjfI/AAAAAAAAUP8/KaO1zL-BxhEWaSSERP6hPeb4GdznHkXPQCKgB/s320/20161218_091034.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />To help propel me a bit higher I planned a tough winter hike up Caballo Peak. That cache, as well as some of the ones along the way would be worth quite a bit, as well as knock down the points of the current leader, <a href="https://www.geocaching.com/profile/?guid=1ede3cd7-0afd-4ad6-a2d8-0e979801cdf5">wolf11469</a>, who also happened to be the cacher I was competing against back in 2013. That was the plan anyways. The day we went turned out to be one of the coldest of the year, and there was fresh snow along the trail. Not that this would normally be a problem, but I made the mistake of bringing my dog and she ended up having some issues with the cold and ice that I did not anticipate. Balls of ice would form between her toe-pads making it hard for her to walk, and she would constantly stop to chew at these, eventually causing her feet to bleed. We made it as far as <a href="https://coord.info/GLPY0FPG">GC4BQE1</a> before I decided that we should turn around. Only half way to Caballo, and without having found either of the big high LCP caches. There was one puzzle cache that would have been a high LCP find that was at the trailhead, but we couldn't find it under all the snow and ice.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HF9fhOONU-Q/WIzjBy7VKtI/AAAAAAAAUP8/s4z27i2Rm4IqsAiTgFcPf-YP92xIyUWiACKgB/s1600/20161218_114005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HF9fhOONU-Q/WIzjBy7VKtI/AAAAAAAAUP8/s4z27i2Rm4IqsAiTgFcPf-YP92xIyUWiACKgB/s320/20161218_114005.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />Despite not being able to go after those high LCP caches, I had a back-up plan, going after the FTF of a remote desert hike near Espanola, <a href="https://coord.info/GC6Y20Y">Window Rock</a>. A hike that would be at lower elevation where we wouldn't have to worry about the snow and ice, and the dog could happily run along the arroyos and mesas chasing rabbits.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-g9-Ud6QUrLs/WIzjB0x7pDI/AAAAAAAAUP8/dThFCkfxc_Q79-6ew7VWfgcf36J2h_6oQCKgB/s1600/20161218_130120.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-g9-Ud6QUrLs/WIzjB0x7pDI/AAAAAAAAUP8/dThFCkfxc_Q79-6ew7VWfgcf36J2h_6oQCKgB/s320/20161218_130120.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-skjC9zyJiQI/WIzjB_ufrCI/AAAAAAAAUP8/3_j-_rQ11dYFmajsCJIKUkjoqKDGXvRpQCKgB/s1600/20161218_123558.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-skjC9zyJiQI/WIzjB_ufrCI/AAAAAAAAUP8/3_j-_rQ11dYFmajsCJIKUkjoqKDGXvRpQCKgB/s320/20161218_123558.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nIX-zD4U2o4/WIzjB2LBMPI/AAAAAAAAUP8/YKCp2GSTJwIWQ8ftMEJsam2JSWF6C8DngCKgB/s1600/20161218_123933.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nIX-zD4U2o4/WIzjB2LBMPI/AAAAAAAAUP8/YKCp2GSTJwIWQ8ftMEJsam2JSWF6C8DngCKgB/s320/20161218_123933.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JHLUlbT-SUs/WIzjBysOcRI/AAAAAAAAUP8/ckJwZgjxj0wY9A4QeI3omeIVabtphu9eACKgB/s1600/20161218_114646.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JHLUlbT-SUs/WIzjBysOcRI/AAAAAAAAUP8/ckJwZgjxj0wY9A4QeI3omeIVabtphu9eACKgB/s320/20161218_114646.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br />&nbsp;I will be back to go after Caballo, but not in 2016. And despite not reaching my LCP goals for the day, I am happy to be back in the LCP region. No doubt there are some high LCP caches around ehre that I will be targeting over the next few years.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Aaron Hobsonhttps://plus.google.com/103044856479168567706noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6916034258386603581.post-37375211534947895362016-10-16T09:59:00.000-07:002017-01-28T10:05:02.227-08:00FTF Weekend at Wheeler Peak - Friend To Find?Geocaching.com had a promotion going on where they were encouraging folks to bring newbies out geocaching, calling it "<a href="https://www.geocaching.com/blog/2016/09/dont-miss-this-ftf/">Friend To Find</a>" a play on the cacher slang of FTF. I havn't been all that successful in introducing people to geocaching, but I do sometimes go hiking with non-cachers and show them geocaching while we were out. So it just happened that during this promotion, I went on a big day-hike out in the Wheeler Peak area with two non goecachers, co-workers who also were interested in a big long hike.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-69Vy8wPIhP4/WAOytm9oNuI/AAAAAAAASzU/k8yNiBenUT0HfAf6QOPOnPeRKkzn8hGPwCPcB/s1600/20161015_071403.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-69Vy8wPIhP4/WAOytm9oNuI/AAAAAAAASzU/k8yNiBenUT0HfAf6QOPOnPeRKkzn8hGPwCPcB/s320/20161015_071403.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />Wheeler Peak, the highest point in NM is one of the more popular hikes in the area, and the trails up it are well traveled. But the route I wanted to take was not the typical one. I was lured into taking a more circuitous route by an unfound cache on Lake Fork Peak, <a href="https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC5779B_lake-fork-peak">GC5779B</a>. This cache had gone over two years without a find, and was right up my alley terrain wise: scrambling up rocky ridges to a high mountain peak. The other really attractive aspect of hitting this cache was that it presented us with a very interesting looking ridge-walk route to Wheeler. &nbsp;Wheeler Peak is on the eastern side of a cirque of high peaks that surround Williams Lake. Lake Fork Peak was on the western side of that cirque. The logical route would be to walk the ridge-line, passing several un-named peaks along the way. ON a map this looked pretty straightforward, but pictures I found online showed that sections of this ridge were rocky, steep and possibly very challenging. It didn't look like any technical 5th class climbing would be required, but certainly 4th class was a possibility, as well as big mountain exposure. Just the kind of stuff I like.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MwIJ830hCJ0/WAOyuv6-IuI/AAAAAAAASzU/gqjFxrQdEDUS54fO_7X9pGkRc7QaUaU_wCPcB/s1600/20161015_101400.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MwIJ830hCJ0/WAOyuv6-IuI/AAAAAAAASzU/gqjFxrQdEDUS54fO_7X9pGkRc7QaUaU_wCPcB/s320/20161015_101400.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some of the worst terrain on the ascent to Lake Fork Peak</td></tr></tbody></table>To make things even more strenuous, after completing this cirque, we could descend from Wheeler via the 8+ mile long Bull-of-the-woods trail, adding a lot more miles to our day... and a few more geocaches. I was pretty stoked to give this route a try.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9w5GMrUlRQ4/WAOyvMFrznI/AAAAAAAASzU/FJ32krlIM8MQ2zI7AIG0wyYlDDUQTlXygCPcB/s1600/20161015_111134.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9w5GMrUlRQ4/WAOyvMFrznI/AAAAAAAASzU/FJ32krlIM8MQ2zI7AIG0wyYlDDUQTlXygCPcB/s320/20161015_111134.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lake Fork Peak FTF</td></tr></tbody></table>My hiking companions were two engineers that work from my department at LANL. They were pretty stoked about this ambitious hike, but I really had no idea of their capabilities. Fortunately, it seemed like we would have various bail options throughout the route, including an option to return from Wheeler via the Williams Lake trail and shave off several miles from the entire trip. We met at the trailhead at 6:30, while it was still dark and started up the trail shortly after. There were a few geocaches on the trail leading up to Williams Lake, and I used these as a means to introduce them to geocaching. They both signed the logsheets and politely commented how this was pretty interesting, but it didn't look like either of them was interested in creating a geocaching account and actually playing the game. Oh well, no souvenir for me. But I did take newbies geocaching! Too bad Groundspeak can't recognize me anyway.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZeX5dpRr_p0/WAOywBvDBzI/AAAAAAAASzU/YHiRGbldsvg6pzpkZ--38O9YLxhT6nw4ACPcB/s1600/20161015_113040.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZeX5dpRr_p0/WAOywBvDBzI/AAAAAAAASzU/YHiRGbldsvg6pzpkZ--38O9YLxhT6nw4ACPcB/s320/20161015_113040.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Starting our Ridge-run</td></tr></tbody></table>Gaining the ridge at Lake Fork Peak turned out to be a pretty good challenge. I ended up leading our group into some 4th class rock climbing, which was made extra exciting by there being some packed snow and ice on the route. One member of our group got sketched out and we spent a bit of time back-tracking with him so that he could take an alternate (and easier) route. I wrote more about it on my log for <a href="https://coord.info/GLPGGMZ8">Lake Fork Peak</a>.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Af8G9WuGlAU/WAOywTYK_eI/AAAAAAAASzU/u-ml7t33Zt0v3V1O7eTgRM3bNAOXTkpXACPcB/s1600/20161015_113512.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Af8G9WuGlAU/WAOywTYK_eI/AAAAAAAASzU/u-ml7t33Zt0v3V1O7eTgRM3bNAOXTkpXACPcB/s320/20161015_113512.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Typical rocky bluff "obstacle" along the ridge</td></tr></tbody></table>The FTF was an excellent one, and the fact that I found it durng the FTF-"Friends to Find" promotio was even better. Although neither of my companions have logged the cache online yet. Hmph... more Lonely Cache Poitns for me then! Once at our first summit we got a better look at what was in store for us for the ridge walk. There were indeed some very rocky, steep sections of the cirque, but also some that looked pretty easy to walk. There was also a lot of elevation changes that would be required, probably as much as simply descending to Williams Lake and then going up one of the regular Wheeler Peak trails. I mentioned this to our group, but no one seriously considered doing this. The ridge-line looked way cooler.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fUxDVEgyh10/WAOyw-UhBoI/AAAAAAAASzU/4-xQa68t4jMD_IqImuCMCWE7wbxMyhYIQCPcB/s1600/20161015_114813.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fUxDVEgyh10/WAOyw-UhBoI/AAAAAAAASzU/4-xQa68t4jMD_IqImuCMCWE7wbxMyhYIQCPcB/s320/20161015_114813.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some of the rougher terrain along the ridge</td></tr></tbody></table>We set off along the ridge for some initially very easy hiking, and with amazing views all around. Occasionally we would encounter a rocky bluff that would need to be scrambled but we were making steady progress. At the highest peak along the cirque, an un-named peak that reaches 12,819 ft in elevation, I dropped a cache which would become <a href="https://coord.info/GC6VYBJ">GC6VYBJ</a>. I came up with an idea for a puzzle to accompany the cache along our route that I thought was pretty fun. Hopefully the geocachers who go after it will think so too, but I bet it's going to be good and lonely.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1xfWfPpBMR8/WAOyx42BvpI/AAAAAAAASzU/vEv5gWhHRlkpvosSNSkLGaWQNXKfo8iVwCPcB/s1600/20161015_115127.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1xfWfPpBMR8/WAOyx42BvpI/AAAAAAAASzU/vEv5gWhHRlkpvosSNSkLGaWQNXKfo8iVwCPcB/s320/20161015_115127.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cool remote lake south of ridge, in Taos Pueblo Reservation land</td></tr></tbody></table>There was one more un-named peak that we had to pass before we got to the final ridge climb up to the main ridge that leads to Wheeler Peak. Once we got around this peak it became apparent that this final ridge climb would be some of the toughest terrain we would face on the whole route. IN fact, it looked hairy enough that one member of our group decided against going up it. There was a faint/old trail off to our south along the flank of Old Mike Peak and he decided he would descend down to this trail and meet us at Old Mike Peak. This would cost him a whole &nbsp;bunch of elevation change and additional miles, but he thought that was better than the exposed scramble that lay ahead of us. So we split up again. I hate doing this, it goes against what has been drilled into me from SAR training, and also good trip-leader practices, but we did it anyways.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ID5GaiChaWY/WAOyyYzp-QI/AAAAAAAASzU/Ng9cw6NeAwUSjnnO6v_T3RQX5s51XUI8gCPcB/s1600/20161015_132937.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ID5GaiChaWY/WAOyyYzp-QI/AAAAAAAASzU/Ng9cw6NeAwUSjnnO6v_T3RQX5s51XUI8gCPcB/s320/20161015_132937.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Knife-edge section of ridge</td></tr></tbody></table><br />The ridge was indeed exposed and dicey at parts, but never outside of our comfort zones. There was one knife-edge like portion that was especially "fun". Would I do it again? Definitely! Would I recommend it to others? Not unless I knew they liked this sort of thing. We ended up having to wait on Old Mike Peak for a good while for the third member of our party to catch up with us. His route was easier, but also a whole lot longer. By this time it was getting late in the afternoon, and the wind was ferociously strong. We tagged <a href="https://coord.info/GC8B1F">Wheeler Peak</a>&nbsp;around 5pm. Definitely not enough tine to descend via the Bull-of-the-woods trail. Oh well, now I have an excuse to come back out here and hike that trail some day. <a href="https://coord.info/GLPGJCV8">My log</a> on the Wheeler Peak geocache goes into a bit more detail about our route, which you can read if your really care to.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-saLPzbOnkDU/WAOyzVPbU0I/AAAAAAAASzU/2p2aKnGUalghw9mYAcDeZ6ERV1shbZXuwCPcB/s1600/20161015_151659.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-saLPzbOnkDU/WAOyzVPbU0I/AAAAAAAASzU/2p2aKnGUalghw9mYAcDeZ6ERV1shbZXuwCPcB/s320/20161015_151659.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Old Mike Peak</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SNRQLYNPM6Y/WAOyzQdxV7I/AAAAAAAAS8U/f50WUI7FH8o_c7f-kAD6lnUA_0G-JhNswCPcB/s1600/20161015_151725.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="83" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SNRQLYNPM6Y/WAOyzQdxV7I/AAAAAAAAS8U/f50WUI7FH8o_c7f-kAD6lnUA_0G-JhNswCPcB/s320/20161015_151725.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Old Mike Peak</td></tr></tbody></table>Our descent was on good trails, which was a relief after spending nearly the whole day off trail and in rough terrain. We were back to the car just after dark, having only put on our headlamps for the last 15 minutes of walking. It was an incredible day of hiking in the high peaks, and a strenuous one at that. Perhaps it wasn't the best way to introduce newbies to geocaching though. We'll see if these guys end up hiking with me again some time.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6OIv0MWZiws/WAOy1ICfysI/AAAAAAAASzU/9791kljoPvUW5eTKZltVJP22edEZ0GkFACPcB/s1600/20161015_164337%25280%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6OIv0MWZiws/WAOy1ICfysI/AAAAAAAASzU/9791kljoPvUW5eTKZltVJP22edEZ0GkFACPcB/s320/20161015_164337%25280%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wheeler Peak</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-q0gJMAoqCxk/WAOy1cwIeqI/AAAAAAAASzU/CgeJACp9-4oErIPorRAw8jzywu8J8sOfgCPcB/s1600/20161015_173737.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-q0gJMAoqCxk/WAOy1cwIeqI/AAAAAAAASzU/CgeJACp9-4oErIPorRAw8jzywu8J8sOfgCPcB/s320/20161015_173737.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GPxL9Ji6Fjg/WAOy0M12-qI/AAAAAAAASzU/o-_s2vlEZeYOhj0q19V3SD0mniABSuY6wCPcB/s1600/20161015_152852.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GPxL9Ji6Fjg/WAOy0M12-qI/AAAAAAAASzU/o-_s2vlEZeYOhj0q19V3SD0mniABSuY6wCPcB/s320/20161015_152852.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8cUlzfT1zVY/WAOy1mjXtEI/AAAAAAAASzU/oDZtvxo8jxsWZ6yxdEa9VXdm1UoOMdFQwCPcB/s1600/20161015_174700.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8cUlzfT1zVY/WAOy1mjXtEI/AAAAAAAASzU/oDZtvxo8jxsWZ6yxdEa9VXdm1UoOMdFQwCPcB/s320/20161015_174700.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><br />Aaron Hobsonhttps://plus.google.com/103044856479168567706noreply@blogger.com0Wheeler Peak, New Mexico 87525, USA36.5568549 -105.4168409000000111.034820399999997 -146.7254349 62.078889399999994 -64.108246900000012tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6916034258386603581.post-87180049681666709892016-08-27T10:49:00.002-07:002016-08-27T10:49:59.273-07:00Going Bald in Santa Fe?It's surprising really that I'm not bald yet. It's in my genes, both my uncles are bald, and my younger brother has a nice bald patch on the back of his head. But my dad isn't bald, and maybe I'm following his example, since so far no bald spot has appeared on the back of my skull. But this post isn't about hereditary male pattern balding. It's about hiking and geocaching up Santa Fe Baldy, the prize peak outside of Santa Fe and one that has been calling to me since we moved here.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ryavCs1Ywj4/V8GqupwL5fI/AAAAAAAARrE/WfLlCN3Xai8-6WUohBSkDgYcoaJV-CrnwCPcB/s1600/20160825_074750.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ryavCs1Ywj4/V8GqupwL5fI/AAAAAAAARrE/WfLlCN3Xai8-6WUohBSkDgYcoaJV-CrnwCPcB/s640/20160825_074750.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Santa Fe Bald as viewed from Penitente Peak</td></tr></tbody></table>There is a standard route to Santa Fe Bald is from the SF Ski Basin and is about 14 miles round trip. This looks like a fine route, but after looking at maps and geocaches in the area, I settled on a longer loop hike which would take me up a couple other peaks and by 3 alpine lakes. It looked to be more like 20 miles of hiking, and I needed to finish early enough to pick up my kids from school, so I set the alarm real early, got up at 4:30 am, was out the door before 5 am and was hitting the trail at 5:22 am. I started at the Santa Fe Ski Basin on the Winsor Trail. The trail was dark and spooky, and I only had brought a small LED flashlight with me which really didn't provide much illumination. Thoughts of stumbling upon bear, skunks, porcupine or elk flashed through my head at each turn up the switchbacks. The trail was eerily quiet though. I reached the first ridge where the Pecos Wilderness boundary is and the sky was noticeably brighter there. The moon was providing some nice illumination and I tried, rather unsuccessfully to snap a few shots of the night sky. Then I kept marching up Raven's Ridge to my first geocaches.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4edwpMj8r_s/V8GqrnqHzYI/AAAAAAAARqU/z_4XOA4jTAY4tjtJ_t2RucU2Fzqmdf7IgCPcB/s1600/20160825_054547.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4edwpMj8r_s/V8GqrnqHzYI/AAAAAAAARqU/z_4XOA4jTAY4tjtJ_t2RucU2Fzqmdf7IgCPcB/s320/20160825_054547.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Early morning selfie</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UT5psy2Gqls/V8GqsPVch9I/AAAAAAAARqY/YhwHX2utJggwOFC2liVXHqr8txXQiZCsACPcB/s1600/20160825_060353.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UT5psy2Gqls/V8GqsPVch9I/AAAAAAAARqY/YhwHX2utJggwOFC2liVXHqr8txXQiZCsACPcB/s400/20160825_060353.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunrise on Raven's Ridge</td></tr></tbody></table>The first three geocaches up Raven's Ridge were tribute caches for a local Albuqueque cacher who goes by Thoehn. Each cache was for a different 10k geocaching milestone, which is just mind boggling to me. I geocache quite a bit, and have been for over five years now, but still am nowhere close to 10K geocaches found. To think that this fellow has found over 30K?! Incredible. Thecaches themselves were small affairs, although the 30K was noticeably nicer, in both container and location. Perhaps when Thoehn reaches 40K it will be an ammo can? One can speculate. The higher I got up on the ridge, the colder and windier it became. It felt like it was in the 30's and I spotted at least a few small patches of snow. Fortunately I had brought a warm layer, so it wasn't too bad, but to think that it is so cold in August up here makes me think that the window for hiking these high peaks is drawing to a close. Or maybe I just need to plan on more winter like clothing for these hikes. Next time, I bring thermals. I gained the summit of Lake Peak a little past 7 am and made a phone call home to make sure the family was getting up and ready for school. They were just getting out of bad, and I had already hiked 3 miles and gained 2,500' elevation. Now that's a morning!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3Y6iA6NfrgQ/V8Gqska-rDI/AAAAAAAARqk/zTR2EwZm2KAw8p_ZNerEZU0yUpDl647OwCPcB/s1600/20160825_065654.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3Y6iA6NfrgQ/V8Gqska-rDI/AAAAAAAARqk/zTR2EwZm2KAw8p_ZNerEZU0yUpDl647OwCPcB/s320/20160825_065654.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-glveQXuSzto/V8Gqs7oQ8FI/AAAAAAAARqo/I83-ji_hVzc4V0k6Ete_ON2gDQ46fOSbwCPcB/s1600/20160825_065705.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-glveQXuSzto/V8Gqs7oQ8FI/AAAAAAAARqo/I83-ji_hVzc4V0k6Ete_ON2gDQ46fOSbwCPcB/s320/20160825_065705.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />There is a nice group of caches up around Lake Peak, which is quite rocky and rugged, requiring a bit of scrambling to reach. I was finally getting sunshine, but it was still quite chilly. The caches were all in decent shape, and where they were big enough I added my signature wooden nickle and a few kids toys. There was one cache near Lake Peak that I decided to skip, which I hate doing on hikes like this. Usually, I try to find every cache I hike by, but this one, GC1DX1Z, would require almost a 1/4 mile descent down a ridge in a direction I didn't intend on continuing. I would have to re-climb lake peak after finding it, and it seemed like a lot of extra effort. Not that I am opposed to extra effort to nab another geocache, but I had my sights set on a different geocache which was still a long hike away, and I needed to budget my time. So skip this one I did.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-urtt7LpJsOc/V8GyfsSb63I/AAAAAAAARtM/hR8-iHf5QJA0MxIp_ngo8fNn-KzIDXIjgCLcB/s1600/Lake%2BPeak%2BMap.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="252" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-urtt7LpJsOc/V8GyfsSb63I/AAAAAAAARtM/hR8-iHf5QJA0MxIp_ngo8fNn-KzIDXIjgCLcB/s400/Lake%2BPeak%2BMap.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>The skyline trail was fairly rough descending down the east slope of Lake Peak, but then I reached the most beautiful alpine meadow and the flank of Penitente Peak, my next destination. This peak is also a Bald, in that the summit is completely treeless. It doesn't even have very many rocks, consisting mainly of a huge alpine meadow. The views were amazing. The summit had a small wind-break constructed from rocks and I took a little break there, a welcome respite from the cold morning wind. The Skyline Trail, which is the one I was on now, almost completely disappeared in the meadow up there. Not that a trail was much needed, you could easily walk in any direction for a good long ways. I checked my map to see which direction I was supposed to go and simply started walking. The open meadow stretched on for a half a mile and I finally found the trail as it approached the forest below.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oKLhQ9jQezY/V8Gqt86eTAI/AAAAAAAARq4/NdP4mLwUAJ0A2VvNUnvePzOmt_CevJFiwCPcB/s1600/20160825_073617.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oKLhQ9jQezY/V8Gqt86eTAI/AAAAAAAARq4/NdP4mLwUAJ0A2VvNUnvePzOmt_CevJFiwCPcB/s320/20160825_073617.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Penitente Peak Wind Break</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_tFs3bW1QDQ/V8GqvO9dllI/AAAAAAAARrI/rrJ0Ay3Bc8waCNwcfGtMj3PrmJc9vtaPACPcB/s1600/20160825_074757.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_tFs3bW1QDQ/V8GqvO9dllI/AAAAAAAARrI/rrJ0Ay3Bc8waCNwcfGtMj3PrmJc9vtaPACPcB/s320/20160825_074757.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">SF Bald viewed from Penitente Peak. Wonderful trail on this peak.</td></tr></tbody></table>Skyline trail meets up with the Winsor trail below Penitente Peak. If I had wanted to take a quick route up Santa Fe Bald, I would have turned left at this junction and stayed on the Skyline trail, which heads up to Santa Fe bald next. But I had other ideas, and turned right onto the Winsor trail. A few miles away was an unfound geocache at Stewart Lake. It was definitely out of the way, adding many more miles to my hike, but it would also take me up to Lake Katherine underneath Santa Fe Bald, and by an old Weeds19 geocache that I wanted to find. So the extra five miles or so was worth it in my mind. I just needed to make sure I could hike all those miles and still get back to my car in time to go pick up the kids. For once, i utilized the trip computer function on my GPSr, which computes my moving average and stopped time. So far I was making pretty good time, and the Winsor trail was easy hiking. I was averaging 2.8 mph while moving and was only stopped for about 25% of the time. At that rate, it looked like I would be able to reach Stewart Lake, then backtrack up to Katherine Lake in a few hours. I gave myself an hour to make the steep climb from Lake Katherine up to the top of Santa Fe Bald, which would put me right around noon. That left me only 3 hours to get back to my car, but along the main trails, I thought that would be doable as well. So off I went at a brisk pace down the trail.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3Nms7sldr_0/V8Gqvl-CRZI/AAAAAAAARrQ/aoDgzAr4sRgXV-092idbs9tv4eixZqvZQCPcB/s1600/20160825_083656.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3Nms7sldr_0/V8Gqvl-CRZI/AAAAAAAARrQ/aoDgzAr4sRgXV-092idbs9tv4eixZqvZQCPcB/s320/20160825_083656.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Winsor Trail Moss</td></tr></tbody></table>At Spirit Lake, I met my first hiker for the day. He was standing by the shore of the tranquil lake drinking something hot from a mug. The scene was so peaceful and serene that I almost didn't want to say hi as I walked by, but he heard me approaching and turned to offer a good morning. He then asked me where I had slept, and I told him I was a day hiker coming from the Ski Basin. He looked at least a little surprised by this, since it was still quite early in the morning and the Ski Basin was a long ways off. He had slept right there at the lake. We chatted in hushed tones about summitting Santa Fe bald, which was my ultimate destination. He decided not to go after SF Bald the day before due to thunderstorms, but he said they didn't really come in until 2pm. My plan of peaking by noon sounded pretty good. After saying goodbye I briefly lost the trail since there were numerous little side trails leading to campsites in this area. It is an ideal camping destination, a serene lake far away from anything. I'll have to come back some time and spend a bit more time relaxing there. But not on this day. I still had miles to go, and schedules to keep.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yJS6_03GW_Y/V8GqwsQYWaI/AAAAAAAARrc/4fpqTKwfceI81oM1RRV2VKTrUuMMvl9bQCPcB/s1600/20160825_093408.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yJS6_03GW_Y/V8GqwsQYWaI/AAAAAAAARrc/4fpqTKwfceI81oM1RRV2VKTrUuMMvl9bQCPcB/s320/20160825_093408.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stewart Lake</td></tr></tbody></table>Stewart lake was about 600' in elevation lower than Spirit Lake and didn't have quite the same alpine charm, but it did boast a nice view of the mountains behind it. it also appeared to be stocked with fish, as I saw a few ripples while I was there looking for geocache, <a href="https://coord.info/GC6Q8HV">GC6Q8HV</a>. This cache was only recently published and was a big reason I made this hike as long as I did. I did get the FTF, locating the nice clean tupperware under a log and signing the blank log. There wasn't any spectacular FTF prize, just the satisfaction of getting out in the mountains before anyone else.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dzhaf5kHuz0/V8Gqv6zsXsI/AAAAAAAARrU/lzFYN7zrf9k0QtrOzlu-RFipqcSuKSS-ACPcB/s1600/20160825_093156.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dzhaf5kHuz0/V8Gqv6zsXsI/AAAAAAAARrU/lzFYN7zrf9k0QtrOzlu-RFipqcSuKSS-ACPcB/s320/20160825_093156.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">FTF at Stewart Lake</td></tr></tbody></table>&nbsp;My next stop was an old Weeds19 geocache,&nbsp;<a href="https://coord.info/GC1YNEY">Hidden River</a>, a cache that has only been found 8 times in 10 years. A nice lonely one, it is easy to see why it is not found often. Not only is it a long hike, but you need to travel off trail for 1/4 mile and then the coordinates for the cache are known to be about 70' off. Considering it is hidden in a large boulder field with hundreds of possible locations, it's no wonder it doesn't get found much. Although there aren't any DNFs posted, so perhaps the bad coordinates aren't so much of a hindrance to eager cachers. it took my close to 20 minutes to find the cache, making my longest stop for the hike. The coords were indeed 70' off for me, but once I started thinking about how it was hidden I got away from the bad GZ and started looking in the right areas. It was very cool to find this old cache and see some of my favorite cachers signatures way back on the log sheet.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Cut85nZEmq8/V8Gqw-Kw73I/AAAAAAAARrg/WiImsQ3azS09xHWXLxVsfwUaE6ZkH5VjQCPcB/s1600/20160825_104539.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Cut85nZEmq8/V8Gqw-Kw73I/AAAAAAAARrg/WiImsQ3azS09xHWXLxVsfwUaE6ZkH5VjQCPcB/s320/20160825_104539.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hidden River Logsheet</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WZkiFfBnJ0k/V8GqxBjsQjI/AAAAAAAARrk/p_dYdkbKtz8_a5aKHkFRXWrR0r-8Ohj0gCPcB/s1600/20160825_104550.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WZkiFfBnJ0k/V8GqxBjsQjI/AAAAAAAARrk/p_dYdkbKtz8_a5aKHkFRXWrR0r-8Ohj0gCPcB/s320/20160825_104550.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hidden River Cache Area. The water flows under the boulder field</td></tr></tbody></table>From the Hidden River it was a slog up to Lake Katherine, gaining back much of the elevation I had dropped earlier. I reached Lake Katherine at quarter past 11, meaning I was behind schedule. That meant I couldn't sit and relax and enjoy one of the finest lake/mountain views around.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sF6ocngH2p4/V8Gqx4ymB4I/AAAAAAAARrs/2vu4eKkzhncJy_G-lIj_2Yr4xNARKh0lgCPcB/s1600/20160825_111901.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="107" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sF6ocngH2p4/V8Gqx4ymB4I/AAAAAAAARrs/2vu4eKkzhncJy_G-lIj_2Yr4xNARKh0lgCPcB/s320/20160825_111901.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>I did add a bit of water to my water bottle though, since I was pretty low. Perhaps foolishly, I didn't purify the water even though I had a filter with me. The water in the lake looked so clear and cold and clean, and I was feeling in a rush to gain the summit (storm clouds were gathering in the east) that I took a risk and simply took the water as is. So far no ill effects, but this wasn't a great idea.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-D7mDoc74fsQ/V8GqyGrOcdI/AAAAAAAARrw/9u27BDfk1Hsr5sX-A630uAxZVfWf-HNbgCPcB/s1600/20160825_111911.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-D7mDoc74fsQ/V8GqyGrOcdI/AAAAAAAARrw/9u27BDfk1Hsr5sX-A630uAxZVfWf-HNbgCPcB/s320/20160825_111911.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lake Katherine Clean Water... hopefully</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RmRXdtZV2co/V8GqySUl0CI/AAAAAAAARr0/XsNbIVEknpAnUspuQY3SQ8pCt6ylm66JwCPcB/s1600/20160825_112130.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RmRXdtZV2co/V8GqySUl0CI/AAAAAAAARr0/XsNbIVEknpAnUspuQY3SQ8pCt6ylm66JwCPcB/s320/20160825_112130.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Storm Clouds building east of Lake Katherine</td></tr></tbody></table>At Lake Katherine I was back on the Skyline Trail, which skirts around the south of the lake and then climbs over the southern ridge of SF Bald. Taking the trial up to SF Bald would mean quite a bit of hiking, and there was "faster" [shorter] way. I could skirt the lake on the North, then ascend a steep heather-filled slope to the ridge North of SF bald. It looked very steep, but not too bad, so off I went. I heard many Marmots and Pikas while making my way up the heather, and saw many burrows, but didn't actually set my eyes on any of the little mammals. The going was slow, but I made the ridge top right before noon, and found another wonderfully lonely cache,&nbsp;<a href="https://coord.info/GC1W6A0">Lake Katherine Overlook</a>, found only seven times in eight years. This one is another Weeds19 cache, and he tucked it down an exposed rocky ledge. At least one cacher had been turned back by the exposed downclimb needed. I wan't so bothered by the exposure, but I was bothered by the booming thunder from the storm cloud out over the Pecos River to the east, a bit too close for comfort. I quickly found the cache using the spoiler picture, signed the log and was on my way to tag the summit and then get to lower ground.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2OgWi7vvWiQ/V8Gq0EJu51I/AAAAAAAARsI/xXkXd0qHUoEVVmSOM3xtcg1JxsC0Pe8LACPcB/s1600/20160825_113139.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2OgWi7vvWiQ/V8Gq0EJu51I/AAAAAAAARsI/xXkXd0qHUoEVVmSOM3xtcg1JxsC0Pe8LACPcB/s320/20160825_113139.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My route up SF Bald. Steep heather.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wfK7IBdI9DE/V8Gq1HTFT-I/AAAAAAAARsU/4q1q5w88cgAHmnZaJFbnPpCkgh4_k0arQCPcB/s1600/20160825_120102.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wfK7IBdI9DE/V8Gq1HTFT-I/AAAAAAAARsU/4q1q5w88cgAHmnZaJFbnPpCkgh4_k0arQCPcB/s320/20160825_120102.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Near the cache Lake Katherine View</td></tr></tbody></table>The summit and associated geocache,&nbsp;<a href="https://coord.info/GC2AV55">GC2AV55</a>, gets visited quite a bit it seems. It is indeed a proud hike for anyone in the area, with no easy way up, but views that are rewarding beyond all the efort expended to reach there. But I didn't linger long, those clouds to the east looked mean, and were rumbling quite a bit. The last place to be when there is a thunderstorm is on top of the highest mountain around, and that's exactly where I was. I wasn't too worried though, the storm looked to be quite a ways off to the east. The ridge-line on the other side of the Pecos River valley was getting drenched, but SF Bald was high and dry as was Pecos Bald and the Truchas Peaks to the north. Truchas however was quite white with snow. I was thankful that SF Bald was not snow capped as it would have made the going down much slower and slipperier. I snapped some photos of the summit to show I was there, then was off down the well worn spur trail on the south of the mountain.,<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yt2I3uxr_hA/V8Gq1Tagy6I/AAAAAAAARsY/AaPtt_J0xbUJi5J2tcHk1hp7IuR0dQx7ACPcB/s1600/20160825_121900.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yt2I3uxr_hA/V8Gq1Tagy6I/AAAAAAAARsY/AaPtt_J0xbUJi5J2tcHk1hp7IuR0dQx7ACPcB/s640/20160825_121900.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Picture Perfect Alpine trail above 12,000 feet. Looking South towards Lake Peak and Tesuque Peak.</td></tr></tbody></table>&nbsp;I made great time on my descent and was soon off the ridge and away from any perceived threat of getting struck by lightening. I ow had an "easy" 6 miles of hiking down the Winsor trail back to my car. I was already very exhausted from over 5000' of elevation climbing and 15 miles of hiking though, which made the return trip a bit less pleasant than it would normally have been. Fortunately, there were a bunch of micro caches for me to find along the trail back, and I stopped at each finding nearly all of them. I ran into a few more hikers too, some heading up to Lake Katherine, and one just out mushroom hunting. I had noticed that bollettes had started fruiting, and there was also a ton of fresh <i>Amanita muscari</i>, or Fly Agarics for you non mushroom people. I had a nice little chat with the mushroom hunter, and learned that the fruiting of the <i>A. muscaris</i>&nbsp;wa a good sign and meant that lots of other good stuff would be sprouting soon. I'll have to bring a suitable mushroom collecting bag on my next hike.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ItwVF8XiD9c/V8Gq2HBpLEI/AAAAAAAARsk/YhDVarAnxW4sVkp97bCKHthNoaizGyHJACPcB/s1600/20160825_123815.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="235" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ItwVF8XiD9c/V8Gq2HBpLEI/AAAAAAAARsk/YhDVarAnxW4sVkp97bCKHthNoaizGyHJACPcB/s400/20160825_123815.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Skyline Trail junction with the spur trail that heads up to SF Bald.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lKA0vjn-kQg/V8Gq2Vu6j-I/AAAAAAAARso/uUrDMYWfOXsiaZxjnIfANWJe1Ghyx-DQgCPcB/s1600/20160825_124513.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lKA0vjn-kQg/V8Gq2Vu6j-I/AAAAAAAARso/uUrDMYWfOXsiaZxjnIfANWJe1Ghyx-DQgCPcB/s320/20160825_124513.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>A. muscari</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jw15NAlbCYc/V8Gq2pN_hXI/AAAAAAAARss/eNIkodQwFp4UkYRGLCOTZOUs7K3N3CicQCPcB/s1600/20160825_130514.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jw15NAlbCYc/V8Gq2pN_hXI/AAAAAAAARss/eNIkodQwFp4UkYRGLCOTZOUs7K3N3CicQCPcB/s400/20160825_130514.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Meadow near junction with Winsor Trail</td></tr></tbody></table>&nbsp;My time allotment of 3 hours to get from SF Bald back to the car seemed to be pretty accurate. I was exhausted and maybe a little dehydrated, but I kept a good pace down the trail and the miles flew by. I stopped to filter some water at the junction with the Nambe Lake trail, dehydration is no fun and I was out of water. I was able to find all the geocaches on the trail except one, and skipped another that was on the parallel Rio Nambe Trail. Maybe if I had a bit more energy I might have been tempted to go after that multi on the Rio Nambe trail, but I was beat. Now at least, I have a good reason to return to these trails to mop those up.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bai61VHHPz4/V8Gq3Hd0qII/AAAAAAAARsw/KYXPVpPYWvE5mHJaUCqWnBVBp4io2S0ZQCPcB/s1600/20160825_144339.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bai61VHHPz4/V8Gq3Hd0qII/AAAAAAAARsw/KYXPVpPYWvE5mHJaUCqWnBVBp4io2S0ZQCPcB/s320/20160825_144339.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Feeling Beat after 20 miles of hiking</td></tr></tbody></table>I made it back to my car at 3:15 pm, missing my target return time by only fifteen minutes. Not too bad, I still had plenty of time to drive down into Santa Fe and get the kids... and then collapse on the couch the rest of the afternoon. It was an awesome hike, and I'd definitely do it again, but maybe without the schedule pressure. A few extra hours to mosey would have been appreciated.<br /><br />Some final stats:<br /><br /><ul><li>Geocaches found: 18</li><li>Geocaches DNF'd: 1</li><li>Geocaches skipped because they were too far out of the way: 2</li><li>Miles hiked: 20.0</li><li>Elevation gained: 5360'</li></ul><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Aaron Hobsonhttps://plus.google.com/103044856479168567706noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6916034258386603581.post-24341872185372654992016-07-10T07:00:00.000-07:002016-07-20T12:23:42.726-07:00The Himalayas of New Mexico?<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-snOCj_M2dfc/V4M-AA4jQwI/AAAAAAAAPcA/VmiR6PO5CtYK7wxVL2pZZIUzzVVZJl0WACKgB/s1600/20160710_125450.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="102" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-snOCj_M2dfc/V4M-AA4jQwI/AAAAAAAAPcA/VmiR6PO5CtYK7wxVL2pZZIUzzVVZJl0WACKgB/s640/20160710_125450.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">360 View from one of the Truchas peaks (can't recall which one now)</td></tr></tbody></table>&nbsp;This is not what I used to associate with New Mexico mountain hiking. I've hiked and climbed lots of peaks in New Mexico, but always in the southern half of the state. The peaks are dry, barren, and sometimes jagged. But they never really look alpine, at least in the true sense of the word, which associates with the Alps. The Sangre de Cristo mountains are different, and I suspect a bunch of the other ranges up here in Northern New Mexico are similar. These are high peaks, above 12,000 ft, and they get enough rain such that they host meadows and alpine flowers, snow fields that persist all year long, and beautiful alpine lakes.<br /><br />I had an ambitious hike lined up for these mountains. My goal was to summit all the Truchas peaks, cokmpleting a long circular ridge-walk way up above 11,000 ft. The quickest approach is at a trailhead that requires special permissions to access, and a serious 4x4 vehicle, so I opted for a longer hike which started on the San Leonardo Lakes trail. Hiking up to the lake at 6am was quiet and quick, and I was soon at the lake before the sun had even crested the mountain ridges.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SkIzNeS4u30/V4M-ADA2z8I/AAAAAAAAPcA/aNQkSuzOPQ4K-LYxkYhwAREUTiEZYYW6gCKgB/s1600/20160710_071606.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="252" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SkIzNeS4u30/V4M-ADA2z8I/AAAAAAAAPcA/aNQkSuzOPQ4K-LYxkYhwAREUTiEZYYW6gCKgB/s640/20160710_071606.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">San Leonardo Lake</td></tr></tbody></table></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I was dreading the climb up to the ridgetop above the lake, thinking it would be up scree slopes, or involve 4th and low 5th class climbing, but it turned out to not be bad at all. I was able to follow steep alpine meadows the whole way. The hardest part was trying not to step on all the beautiful flowers. Once on the ridgetop I began making my way around, collecting geocaches as I went. What, geocaches?! I know, a real surprise that there are a number of geocaches I was targeting on this hike. There were 6 unfound caches either on the ridge, or close enough for me to make small side excursions to get (<a href="https://coord.info/GC627BQ">I Touched the Sky</a>, <a href="https://coord.info/GC62745">The Himalayas of NM</a>, <a href="https://coord.info/GC6MM67">El Norteno</a>, <a href="https://coord.info/GC63E6H">A thorn in my hoof</a>, <a href="https://coord.info/GC63DXQ">It's All About the Hike</a>&nbsp;and <a href="https://coord.info/GC63E8N">Meadow of Solitude</a>). They were all about 9 months old, and yet no one had gone after them yet. On top of those, there were two pretty lonely caches. One on South Truchas peak, <a href="https://coord.info/GCQ39M">GCQ39M</a>,&nbsp;claims to be the 2nd highest peak in NM and has only been found 6 times in 11 years. The other cache was on Middle Truchas peak, <a href="https://coord.info/GC3XCCB">GC3XCCB</a>,&nbsp;had only been found once in 4 years. These lonely caches were my main targets. The FTF caches along the way were bonus finds.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iqPav9H6IyE/V4M-AKk9L-I/AAAAAAAAPcA/ikxpEoRfCZkwa-NAKXtVo6pvEvtlb9DJgCKgB/s1600/20160710_100530.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="124" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iqPav9H6IyE/V4M-AKk9L-I/AAAAAAAAPcA/ikxpEoRfCZkwa-NAKXtVo6pvEvtlb9DJgCKgB/s640/20160710_100530.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Hnxr-uYQBqE/V4M-AKH-SVI/AAAAAAAAPcA/yJ-GgNgw2xE8kQk7kujNEDoEuIJog0zwwCKgB/s1600/20160710_102854.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="194" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Hnxr-uYQBqE/V4M-AKH-SVI/AAAAAAAAPcA/yJ-GgNgw2xE8kQk7kujNEDoEuIJog0zwwCKgB/s640/20160710_102854.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>&nbsp;The views from up on the ridge were fantastic. I took many panorama shots. The terrain was usualy not too bad either. Yes, there were a lot of ups and downs as I climbed each peak, and then descended to the next. But mostly the going was easy walking in alpine meadows, or stable rocky surfaces. Only in a few spots, especially around North Truchas, did the terrain get into 3rd and 4th class scrambling. This was also the area that I ran into a small family group of Mountain Sheep. Watching them dance along the rocky terrain was something special.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rzgdwrX2_Bo/V4-N2g6COUI/AAAAAAAAPwU/VPxiUZs65jIneSrz5LoRQu7mGHkNlxu7wCLcB/s1600/20160710_093616.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rzgdwrX2_Bo/V4-N2g6COUI/AAAAAAAAPwU/VPxiUZs65jIneSrz5LoRQu7mGHkNlxu7wCLcB/s400/20160710_093616.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>I took a nice lunch break a little before noon, at a high saddle/highpoint between Middle Truchas and South Truchas. There was a lovely outcropping of quartz up there that I could sit behind and it was somehow sheltered from the wind, which was blowing pretty steadily else-where on the ridge. After many thousadns of feet of elevation gain, and several miles I was pretty darn hungry.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LBlTBU2TuQI/V4M-ACpd7QI/AAAAAAAAPcA/T3_HzaLOd0Y3OLB69f4j698bT36J-u6qQCKgB/s1600/20160710_110734.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LBlTBU2TuQI/V4M-ACpd7QI/AAAAAAAAPcA/T3_HzaLOd0Y3OLB69f4j698bT36J-u6qQCKgB/s320/20160710_110734.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lunch on high</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Rl87ojTuxLM/V4M-AGMJfXI/AAAAAAAAPcA/KQzuFVIJeMEdmVB1vUzA7tJd8vTH-g3xwCKgB/s1600/20160710_113222.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Rl87ojTuxLM/V4M-AGMJfXI/AAAAAAAAPcA/KQzuFVIJeMEdmVB1vUzA7tJd8vTH-g3xwCKgB/s640/20160710_113222.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Meadows on the Flank of South Truchas</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_QwHsklh_cY/V4M-AJYyRJI/AAAAAAAAPcA/IaDqGl5M6GMqOlRS4wS0b8qoQP3XnodWACKgB/s1600/20160710_123247.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="192" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_QwHsklh_cY/V4M-AJYyRJI/AAAAAAAAPcA/IaDqGl5M6GMqOlRS4wS0b8qoQP3XnodWACKgB/s640/20160710_123247.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gap in the ridge near the summit of Middle Truchas. South Truchas visible off to the right.</td></tr></tbody></table><br />&nbsp;My alpine circuit had taken me past 5 of the 6 unfound caches, and both the older lonely caches. There was still one more unfound cache within reach, but it was way down in the emadows beneath the Truchas peaks, at the headwaters for Rio Quemado. Going after it would mean a big descent and then climb back up the ridge to get over to San Leonardo. But if I went back along the ridge, I'd probably have just as much descent/gain just from going over all the various peaks and bumps. So I dropped down the NE ridge of Middle Truchas and grabbed the meadow cache too. Once down in the valley again, I decided I might as well hike down the trail a mile or so to Quemado Falls.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QpvMvxDK64o/V4M-AHUYmiI/AAAAAAAAPcA/nrfpciZ4wzYI7CzOwt3_hSWabCDnvx_fwCKgB/s1600/20160710_142029.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QpvMvxDK64o/V4M-AHUYmiI/AAAAAAAAPcA/nrfpciZ4wzYI7CzOwt3_hSWabCDnvx_fwCKgB/s640/20160710_142029.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Quemado Falls</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">HIking down to Quemado Falls didn't add more length to my trip, since it was going in the right direction toward my car. In fact, it put me fairly close to a spot on the ridge that I had marked earlier with my GPS as a potential saddle/gap that I could drop down onto San Leonardo Lakes. I was a bit worried that climbing the forested ridge would be really tough and bush-whacky, but it turned out to be a pretty open forest. Just steep. Once i reached the gap in the ridge I was faced with a terrifying chute to descend. Well, terrifying to some I suppose. To me, it looked just like some of the narrow gullies that I'd scamper down after climbing peaks in the Organ Mountains. There was one small (20') section of low 5th class down climbing, and lots of steep gravelly choss, but I made it down in one piece. Once at the lake, it was an easy 3 mile stroll back to the car, which I made it to at 5pm. Not bad at all!</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MYXWNsnoElc/V4M-AGxYPbI/AAAAAAAAPcA/gAptuaUE3asb7KvVL6qinxx-Z_pft6HPwCKgB/s1600/20160710_154548.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MYXWNsnoElc/V4M-AGxYPbI/AAAAAAAAPcA/gAptuaUE3asb7KvVL6qinxx-Z_pft6HPwCKgB/s320/20160710_154548.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the top of the chute above San Leonardo</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Aaron Hobsonhttps://plus.google.com/103044856479168567706noreply@blogger.com0Rio Arriba County, NM, USA35.980593048979273 -105.6434061680920435.967743548979271 -105.66357616809204 35.993442548979274 -105.62323616809205tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6916034258386603581.post-72268481544602215232016-07-02T19:36:00.000-07:002016-07-03T20:43:48.344-07:00I am an Author!Several months ago, I heard about a geocaching writing "competition" in which folks could submit geocaching stories and if their story was accepted, it would be included in a compilation book to be released at Geowoodstock XIV. Someone on the TVG facebook page suggested I submit something. I guess I have a small reputation for writing, perhaps owing to my sometimes lengthy logs, or perhaps this blog. So I put together a story for the competition. I had my brother-in-law, who also geocaches under the user WildWes, edit it for me since he is an English major. Then I hit the submit button. Months went by, but when I finally heard back, my story was accepted. I had to do a little bit of editing, but nothing major.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BE61Yiqn1jc/V3nayttaPNI/AAAAAAAAOgs/JQfj6N1gPcMAWMGKiW4U0TrEtyojrzzpQCLcB/s1600/I%2Bam%2Ban%2Bauthor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BE61Yiqn1jc/V3nayttaPNI/AAAAAAAAOgs/JQfj6N1gPcMAWMGKiW4U0TrEtyojrzzpQCLcB/s320/I%2Bam%2Ban%2Bauthor.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>As this nice promotional graphic states, the book is available at <a href="http://amzn.to/29cJNUp">Amazon</a>. I get a free copy sent to me since I was a contributing author, but I also have ordered 3 more copies to send to family memebrs who i think would appreciate the book. or at least my small part. I'll have to check with Kimberly Eldredge if I can repost my story here on my blog now that the book has published. not sure if that is kosher. But for now, yippee!Aaron Hobsonhttps://plus.google.com/103044856479168567706noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6916034258386603581.post-19625046369668258832016-06-26T19:36:00.000-07:002016-07-03T19:52:40.965-07:00Cutting my teeth in the Pecos Wilderness<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We've only been in New Mexico for a week, and already my head is full of hiking possibilities. Lonely caches, remote wilderness peaks, unfound caches in obscure wilderness canyons... m,an I live for this stuff. So with our house mostly getting settled, I took a day off from moving in to go out and tackle one of my new nearby wilderness adventures. There were several hikes/caches I was looking at, but the one I settled on was a recently published cache called <a href="https://coord.info/GC6HZMV">North Macho Falls</a>. It was placed only a month ago, mid may, but nobody had gone after it yet, and there was no one watching it. I could tell why, the description talks about a brutal off-trail trek up and down a wilderness canyon. It talks about needing to have expert route finding skills, and repeatedly stresses the rugged nature of the area. Yeah, that sounds like something I'd be into. I packed up my kit and got up at 5am. Made a quick coffee and was on the road soon after, on my way to adventure!</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-n-HkiSOmToc/V3mMcZXRBaI/AAAAAAAAOdA/NDfvpm1mc_g4EGpPDDPGr6VWznOk4CEcgCKgB/s1600/20160626_055255.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-n-HkiSOmToc/V3mMcZXRBaI/AAAAAAAAOdA/NDfvpm1mc_g4EGpPDDPGr6VWznOk4CEcgCKgB/s320/20160626_055255.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunrise on my drive into the Pecos</td></tr></tbody></table>Just driving to to the starting point for this cache had some hiccups. I totally missed the turn off for forest road 123 and lost nearly a half hour of time doubling back. Then driving up FR123A was slow going in my CR-V. Luckily the road was passable for my poor little SUV, which is more like a mini-van than an adventure mobile. I crawled my way up several steep rocky sections, and eventually made it to the coordinates that the CO had given for one of the starting points. It was 7am. I wolfed down a banana and hit the trail.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ynAmM8IwJRQ/V3mMcoZrlqI/AAAAAAAAOe4/ZkYyZnRThM4c4q6G4h6BOfssyE5DFX_kACKgB/s1600/20160626_070951.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ynAmM8IwJRQ/V3mMcoZrlqI/AAAAAAAAOe4/ZkYyZnRThM4c4q6G4h6BOfssyE5DFX_kACKgB/s320/20160626_070951.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An easy meadow for the start of my hike</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-devUQaD6e2I/V3mMc071MOI/AAAAAAAAOe4/HUNCNzJ9gJsffPG7NUpK10x85TCZjmbvwCKgB/s1600/20160626_070959.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-devUQaD6e2I/V3mMc071MOI/AAAAAAAAOe4/HUNCNzJ9gJsffPG7NUpK10x85TCZjmbvwCKgB/s320/20160626_070959.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All smiles at 7am</td></tr></tbody></table>There wasn't a trail really, I was just following a drainage/creek down until I reached Macho Creek. And it started off pretty easy, with an open meadow. The meadow didn't last long though and soon I was rock hopping the stream bed, which was choked with willow and other brush. The going got slow, but I forced my way down it, sometimes resorting to climbing up the embankments to escape the lunch vegetation of the stream bed. I reached Macho Creek in 50 minutes and was delighted to immediately see a pool full of trout. They were roiling the water every step I took, fleeing from my shape. Most were pretty tiny, but in the bigger pools I caught glimpses of bigger fish.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RMx7MkIga0U/V3mQVtTNWMI/AAAAAAAAOfQ/5ewXxvEEYAgWphCaHOLV0ZAC-5j0a4gmACLcB/s1600/Macho%2BCreek%2BRoute%2BStart.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RMx7MkIga0U/V3mQVtTNWMI/AAAAAAAAOfQ/5ewXxvEEYAgWphCaHOLV0ZAC-5j0a4gmACLcB/s320/Macho%2BCreek%2BRoute%2BStart.png" width="294" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The descent down to Macho Creek</td></tr></tbody></table>The going was slightly easier in Macho Creek, it being a bigger drainage, but it was still kind of slow. A short ways upstream though I came across an old mining camp, and from the camp was an old road bed leading up the canyon. This provided only a short 0.1 miles of easy walking before the road disintegrated and it was back to boulder hopping and brush-beating. I passed a really large and nice swimming hole, which had to be passed on the right by climbing up a steep crumbly slope. I made a mental note that I could swim here on my return, but plowed ahead.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-szdxRY1UQdk/V3mMdCyR1SI/AAAAAAAAOe4/x2wx3QFrOrAS2j1S7rqBS9Lg-7AH6b3ogCKgB/s1600/20160626_075354.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-szdxRY1UQdk/V3mMdCyR1SI/AAAAAAAAOe4/x2wx3QFrOrAS2j1S7rqBS9Lg-7AH6b3ogCKgB/s320/20160626_075354.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mining camp</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lpxs77szzsY/V3mMdQjFPVI/AAAAAAAAOe4/EfvAYQ--2bUZ6o5H7z_MMnlu2YdbrXSBACKgB/s1600/20160626_080650.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="158" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lpxs77szzsY/V3mMdQjFPVI/AAAAAAAAOe4/EfvAYQ--2bUZ6o5H7z_MMnlu2YdbrXSBACKgB/s640/20160626_080650.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nice swimming hole in Macho Creek</td></tr></tbody></table>In a short while I came up to the North Fork of Macho Creek, which was where the cache lay. The intial foray into North Macho Creek involved a steep climb over a few waterfall pools, where much to my dismay I discovered poison ivy. I thought I had left that behind in Tennessee! Apparently not. And to add insult to injury, at one of my rest stops I felt something crawling on my leg and discovered a tick! What! I thought we were done with those when we drove out of Tennessee. Two big disappointments all in one hike.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-INdrZSclxns/V3mMd7y0AkI/AAAAAAAAOe4/mZgEtLSo7ekp9rR1caOBdB4c09z2BrGywCKgB/s1600/20160626_082533.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-INdrZSclxns/V3mMd7y0AkI/AAAAAAAAOe4/mZgEtLSo7ekp9rR1caOBdB4c09z2BrGywCKgB/s400/20160626_082533.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rock formations near the confluence of North Macho Creek</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r2t2dvUvfQo/V3mSHgay2II/AAAAAAAAOfg/qmedvQn2GHQEdFVvhpAre4y-ztuDjEwRACKgB/s1600/20160626_102248.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r2t2dvUvfQo/V3mSHgay2II/AAAAAAAAOfg/qmedvQn2GHQEdFVvhpAre4y-ztuDjEwRACKgB/s320/20160626_102248.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">TICK!</td></tr></tbody></table>North Macho Creek seemed to have a whole lot more waterfalls, carved into the granite like bedrock. The trout continued up the creek as well and I was in awe about how they could have migrated up beyond some of the waterfalls I had circumnavigated. I began to suspect that they had been "seeded" higher up in the creek, but this theory was shot through when I reached a long dry section of creek-bed, and then encountered not a single trout beyond that point. It seemed unlikely that there would not be trout upstream if they had been seeded from up on high, so perhaps that means that the trout really have jumped up the many waterfalls at the start of this creek.<br /><br />I can't say what the main macho Creek looks like, but the North Macho Fork was just wonderful. I lost count of how many waterfalls and pools I had passed (I kept better track on my way down, marking each one on my GPSr). &nbsp;Often the going would be slow around these waterfalls, or in the thick growth that often choked out the bottom of the ravine. but at other times there were open meadows, and easy walking. I had a few miles to go up this creek bed, and I cherished those miles, taking in the various sights and sounds. The warbling vireos were going full blast this morning,a s were tanagers, warblers and thrushes. At one point I flushed a grouse but rather than fly off to get away from me, it tottered a little ways off and did a broken wing display. I suspected there was a nest or young nearby, so I cautiously crept up the slope to where the grouse had flushed. I couldn't spot anything, I climbed up onto a fallen log and peered around some more. The mother hen kept displaying, trying to lure me in her direction, but I was scanning for a nest or some young. i took a step down off the log and a baby grouse exploded from practically under my foot, a flurry of brown feathers arcing away from me across the gorge. The other soon let up her feint, and made her way over to where the baby had flown.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HgEfg_v68TI/V3mMedyrG_I/AAAAAAAAOe4/5HiwLtjXrjERpytKOxz79JhGE94KdG1eACKgB/s1600/20160626_083022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HgEfg_v68TI/V3mMedyrG_I/AAAAAAAAOe4/5HiwLtjXrjERpytKOxz79JhGE94KdG1eACKgB/s320/20160626_083022.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jYATpQ2nhx0/V3mMe13DGEI/AAAAAAAAOe4/OVVtivRMEmg2aaXfAznK1rrz_X87E23_ACKgB/s1600/20160626_083410.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jYATpQ2nhx0/V3mMe13DGEI/AAAAAAAAOe4/OVVtivRMEmg2aaXfAznK1rrz_X87E23_ACKgB/s320/20160626_083410.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-h18DON_KP3c/V3mMfOvQPKI/AAAAAAAAOe4/sj2xzCk65QUwKtFj1XXoyoD7ZdF-cj7LACKgB/s1600/20160626_085020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-h18DON_KP3c/V3mMfOvQPKI/AAAAAAAAOe4/sj2xzCk65QUwKtFj1XXoyoD7ZdF-cj7LACKgB/s320/20160626_085020.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2aCGq5f4hQw/V3mMfgrITrI/AAAAAAAAOe4/BG-AIoTsNnAk2qtnmaJ30wBDkMLhu3lqQCKgB/s1600/20160626_090430.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2aCGq5f4hQw/V3mMfgrITrI/AAAAAAAAOe4/BG-AIoTsNnAk2qtnmaJ30wBDkMLhu3lqQCKgB/s320/20160626_090430.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oZbq7BmW2Hg/V3mMgCNWj3I/AAAAAAAAOe4/iQgpZKDwxpQQEyLLeRwAQawOVesetQ4kQCKgB/s1600/20160626_090454.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oZbq7BmW2Hg/V3mMgCNWj3I/AAAAAAAAOe4/iQgpZKDwxpQQEyLLeRwAQawOVesetQ4kQCKgB/s320/20160626_090454.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-s5ea6s41Shg/V3mMgice7JI/AAAAAAAAOe4/VS-YIbMdVDYsStmc2PAtvGymIg-xZJ0KwCKgB/s1600/20160626_090635.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-s5ea6s41Shg/V3mMgice7JI/AAAAAAAAOe4/VS-YIbMdVDYsStmc2PAtvGymIg-xZJ0KwCKgB/s320/20160626_090635.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-npCSwLB6CKY/V3mMgym9O9I/AAAAAAAAOe4/5iBx_7qrLpM97NgcJX1MIXU8OYL1qz3sACKgB/s1600/20160626_092139.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-npCSwLB6CKY/V3mMgym9O9I/AAAAAAAAOe4/5iBx_7qrLpM97NgcJX1MIXU8OYL1qz3sACKgB/s320/20160626_092139.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5VsHpgkJRIw/V3mMhjc_QrI/AAAAAAAAOe4/Y9TmttP6H5guJqceN7uZpRi9pWswyHPNwCKgB/s1600/20160626_093514.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5VsHpgkJRIw/V3mMhjc_QrI/AAAAAAAAOe4/Y9TmttP6H5guJqceN7uZpRi9pWswyHPNwCKgB/s320/20160626_093514.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aXKPJHnoNUQ/V3mMh_tyjOI/AAAAAAAAOe4/4wNYWqQJJWkfkAHY1srFP_VSV3GZQQVIgCKgB/s1600/20160626_093619.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aXKPJHnoNUQ/V3mMh_tyjOI/AAAAAAAAOe4/4wNYWqQJJWkfkAHY1srFP_VSV3GZQQVIgCKgB/s320/20160626_093619.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QeemCGW-1-8/V3mMiUGBGLI/AAAAAAAAOe4/w62dFfo--S4NBTp6UpUdneJNlZq_pVHRwCKgB/s1600/20160626_093745.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QeemCGW-1-8/V3mMiUGBGLI/AAAAAAAAOe4/w62dFfo--S4NBTp6UpUdneJNlZq_pVHRwCKgB/s320/20160626_093745.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-d6SdF_h9n1A/V3mMiqzF63I/AAAAAAAAOe4/xFHA923d8HQzU6vlwXx7TolRHChQ7C30QCKgB/s1600/20160626_095254.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-d6SdF_h9n1A/V3mMiqzF63I/AAAAAAAAOe4/xFHA923d8HQzU6vlwXx7TolRHChQ7C30QCKgB/s320/20160626_095254.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><br />I made it to the coordinates for the geocache at 10:20 am, and found the cache almost immediately. The coords were actually pretty good considering the canyon walls, and the cache isn't that well hidden. But how many people would stumble their way down this canyon. my guess is that unless a forest fire sweeps down/up this canyon, this geocache is good and safe for decades to come. I wasn't at all surprised to see a blank log. I took a few minutes to compose a log entry, then rehid the cache and sat down to eat my sandwich lunch. The waterfall that the cache was hidden by was not flowing nearly as much as the pictures the CO had posted showed. It made me appreciate how much more difficult the route was only a month ago, with volumes more water to contend with<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BbmTZWz8UnQ/V3mMi1ghvWI/AAAAAAAAOe4/ZGWsIsE7vJstT7TNr2clxPGasNfiAtuWQCKgB/s1600/20160626_101349.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BbmTZWz8UnQ/V3mMi1ghvWI/AAAAAAAAOe4/ZGWsIsE7vJstT7TNr2clxPGasNfiAtuWQCKgB/s320/20160626_101349.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ezUp3fYuqRQ/V3mMjEedqII/AAAAAAAAOe4/3bEYoM0OnUMDymrwm_FQukUksMQDFN75gCKgB/s1600/20160626_102038.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ezUp3fYuqRQ/V3mMjEedqII/AAAAAAAAOe4/3bEYoM0OnUMDymrwm_FQukUksMQDFN75gCKgB/s320/20160626_102038.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vDrnLpkeNDw/V3mMjn2IouI/AAAAAAAAOe4/2zU2eNN9FwIxKcNfCOHh6P3fm3K1G_jCwCKgB/s1600/20160626_102403.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vDrnLpkeNDw/V3mMjn2IouI/AAAAAAAAOe4/2zU2eNN9FwIxKcNfCOHh6P3fm3K1G_jCwCKgB/s320/20160626_102403.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Falls near the geocache, not much water right now</td></tr></tbody></table>The CO had hidden this cache on a one-way route from the ridge-top in front of me, but I was going to backtrack down North Macho Creek. While I wouldn't be covering new ground, I was looking forward to taking a dip in one (or more) of the many pools. I also wanted to see if I could catch a trout with my bare hands. Some of the trout I had passed were in tiny shallow pools and it seemed like I should be able to corner one and scoop it up. I also kept track of the waterfalls on the way down, marking each one with my GPSr. I'm not sure how consistent I was with marking them, and may have counted some small cascades as waterfalls, and missed others. But in general it gave me a good idea of how many cool spots there were along this hike. Here is what the route looks like:<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VH9uQ0JKHKg/V3maR3urqAI/AAAAAAAAOgE/Gf3E4R4BuWA3yOP4SmVFHhLoydtdmvRCgCLcB/s1600/Macho%2Bcreek%2Bwaterfalls%2Boverview.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VH9uQ0JKHKg/V3maR3urqAI/AAAAAAAAOgE/Gf3E4R4BuWA3yOP4SmVFHhLoydtdmvRCgCLcB/s640/Macho%2Bcreek%2Bwaterfalls%2Boverview.png" width="384" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">North Macho Creek Waterfalls</td></tr></tbody></table>The waypoint named "Trout Limit" is the extent furthest extent up the stream that I saw trout. beyond that point, the stream was fish free, much to the enjoyment of the water striders. Not that there is one section of very dense waterfalls. This section looks like this:<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-37kwbohVYi8/V3ma6YOC01I/AAAAAAAAOgI/bP_48yrT7R80QYQlfrNTsmCRMhp76lkLACLcB/s1600/Macho%2Bcreek%2Bdense%2Bwaterfalls.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-37kwbohVYi8/V3ma6YOC01I/AAAAAAAAOgI/bP_48yrT7R80QYQlfrNTsmCRMhp76lkLACLcB/s640/Macho%2Bcreek%2Bdense%2Bwaterfalls.png" width="532" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Section of many waterfalls and pools</td></tr></tbody></table>this section was especially nice, with cascade after cascade, each with lovely little pools that would be perfect for bathing in. At each waterfall, I would create a waypoint with the Code WF# with sequential #s working down from the geocache waterfall. I also added the approximate height of each waterfall.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7Q6PtZ9qvVk/V3mMkQEdSbI/AAAAAAAAOfA/8Cg8NvOp6GYmBj_o9tSJUw5YK-IKJftnQCKgB/s1600/20160626_110739.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7Q6PtZ9qvVk/V3mMkQEdSbI/AAAAAAAAOfA/8Cg8NvOp6GYmBj_o9tSJUw5YK-IKJftnQCKgB/s320/20160626_110739.jpg" width="196" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Section of dense waterfalls</td></tr></tbody></table>Once I got down to where the trout were, I set about trying to catch one by hand. The trout seem to be adapted to this kind of hunting style, either by bears or racoons, and would immediately scurry to dive head-first under rocks where they would wedge themselves out of sight. Unfortunately, some of them were too big and in too shallow pools to get completely out of sight, and I spent some time chasing them about the shallow pools until I finally landed a couple. Somehow, it felt reassuring knowing that I could catch fish with my bare-hands out here, like I would be able to forage my own food if needed and live out in the wilderness.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1MKgvn17gTU/V3mMkwMKpiI/AAAAAAAAOfA/PpZkrcdFsLUpbS1B8yjYuW31dSkvaxz4gCKgB/s1600/20160626_120532.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1MKgvn17gTU/V3mMkwMKpiI/AAAAAAAAOfA/PpZkrcdFsLUpbS1B8yjYuW31dSkvaxz4gCKgB/s320/20160626_120532.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><br />As I made my way down North Macho, it finally began to get hot. The moringin had been cool and enjoyable hiking weather (although I wish I had worn pants instead of shorts for all that bushwhacking). I se tmy sights on one of the best swimming pools, WF13 as marked on my GPSr. This pool wasn't very wide, but plunged to a nice depth of 10' or so and had both a nice jumping off ledge, and a convenient shallow exit point. Just perfect for cooling off.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AunyU1SaSVQ/V3mMlRU5QmI/AAAAAAAAOfA/fXQ6ne_ChTcKbqNpPMHl3ACX83rj5kHSgCKgB/s1600/20160626_123642.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AunyU1SaSVQ/V3mMlRU5QmI/AAAAAAAAOfA/fXQ6ne_ChTcKbqNpPMHl3ACX83rj5kHSgCKgB/s320/20160626_123642.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_4M3WYxkCJ8/V3mMlu6QuRI/AAAAAAAAOfA/4O8yNmjk-joqEs_jkwkMK4PY_rM-VxzDgCKgB/s1600/20160626_123854.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_4M3WYxkCJ8/V3mMlu6QuRI/AAAAAAAAOfA/4O8yNmjk-joqEs_jkwkMK4PY_rM-VxzDgCKgB/s320/20160626_123854.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SiNZzFmDIvo/V3mMmMvWpDI/AAAAAAAAOfA/ifAvjwb95946gfwN-V0tA81YRHQJw9DJgCKgB/s1600/20160626_124412.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SiNZzFmDIvo/V3mMmMvWpDI/AAAAAAAAOfA/ifAvjwb95946gfwN-V0tA81YRHQJw9DJgCKgB/s320/20160626_124412.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />I water was cold, but not overly so (like little Chasm Falls on the Rio En Medio trail a few days ago) and I could have relaxed there for quite a while if it hadn't been for the thunderstorms. The massive grey clouds seemed to come up out of the north and practically out of nowhere. First just a few faint rumblings of thunder up on the ridges above, but growing steadily until the canyon nearly roared with the noise of thunder reverberating up and down its walls. Kind of scary stuff, although I felt safe from lightning strike down in the canyon. There was the hazard of flash flooding though... So I hastily put my clothes on and started rushing down the canyon. I took a bit of video of the storm chasing me, and while I pretty much suck as a vlogger, the video is amusing enough, and is good enough to close out this blog post.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Q1jSbRxGtEs/V3mMmbjsHwI/AAAAAAAAOfA/8uo4yBfpavQ1LePsASc4FBLZ_4of46eOwCKgB/s1600/20160626_125418.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Q1jSbRxGtEs/V3mMmbjsHwI/AAAAAAAAOfA/8uo4yBfpavQ1LePsASc4FBLZ_4of46eOwCKgB/s320/20160626_125418.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Approaching storm</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eaR3AB5OnSw/V3mMmuUHL2I/AAAAAAAAOfA/m1jwwncEfm8M-YWpp-L5DrPTQoG4J7HlACKgB/s1600/20160626_132243.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eaR3AB5OnSw/V3mMmuUHL2I/AAAAAAAAOfA/m1jwwncEfm8M-YWpp-L5DrPTQoG4J7HlACKgB/s320/20160626_132243.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Abandoned mine, a safe place to take shelter? I think not,</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-daxJi5WuLOk/V3mMm6POLtI/AAAAAAAAOfA/WLDkWBD-iaAmGlnn-CY2MW0c83SXfkc0ACKgB/s1600/20160626_141033.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-daxJi5WuLOk/V3mMm6POLtI/AAAAAAAAOfA/WLDkWBD-iaAmGlnn-CY2MW0c83SXfkc0ACKgB/s320/20160626_141033.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Back to the CuRVy by 2pm. Not too shabby for my first Pecos wilderness adventure. May there be many more to come.<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/vijXid3KdAo/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vijXid3KdAo?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><br />Aaron Hobsonhttps://plus.google.com/103044856479168567706noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6916034258386603581.post-85094139276395294182016-06-24T10:21:00.000-07:002016-06-25T10:38:14.441-07:00New Mexico's OldestFinding the oldest active cache in a state seems to be a thing now. I don't remember when it became a thing, or maybe it has always been a thing and I've just noticed it. Whatever the case is, I learned that the oldest caches in New Mexico are really close by to our new home in Santa Fe, and conveniently located off of I-25 such that I could go out and find them after dropping off family at Albuquerque Sunport [airport]. Which is exactly what I did this morning.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WiC8UZAO3-E/V26_lF14q3I/AAAAAAAAOFw/bs7nx2IxZOsaIAG2T1C8hla3tqkcSKoagCKgB/s1600/20160624_064409.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WiC8UZAO3-E/V26_lF14q3I/AAAAAAAAOFw/bs7nx2IxZOsaIAG2T1C8hla3tqkcSKoagCKgB/s400/20160624_064409.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Placitas Open Spaces as viewed from GC3C8KX</td></tr></tbody></table>The oldest cache in new Mexico is actually a little difficult to determine. There are a group of caches placed in an area called Placitas open Space, a little juniper desert area on the outskirts of a suburban neighborhood. There are three caches that are all listed as being placed on January 15, 2001, <a href="https://coord.info/GC190">GC190</a>, <a href="https://coord.info/GC192">GC192</a> and <a href="https://coord.info/GC193">GC193</a>. Oddly, <a href="https://coord.info/GC191">GC191</a>&nbsp;is listed as being placed in April 2001. so which one is the oldest? And does it even matter? They are all in the same little cluster and can be found with a nice little 2 mile hike. Well, nice if you go early in the morning while it is still cool. I showed up about 6:30 and had a very enjoyable hour and a half of walking through the desert hills, finding those old caches and a number of others.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5nVDLZ4Q9d0/V27AuX2ltrI/AAAAAAAAOGU/iszbCQa-ZoA_V1RJqbfBpVc4s0fYgWNnwCKgB/s1600/20160624_072524.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5nVDLZ4Q9d0/V27AuX2ltrI/AAAAAAAAOGU/iszbCQa-ZoA_V1RJqbfBpVc4s0fYgWNnwCKgB/s400/20160624_072524.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sasha chases bunnies and helps me hunt caches</td></tr></tbody></table>One of the coolest things was seeing the stamps from my fellow MOGA team-mates, Sequoia and Kimpossible. They were in New Mexico on a big road trip, and actually hiked the highest point in NM the day after we arrived in Santa Fe. I was invited, but couldn't go since we were unpacking. We are still unpacking... it's an ongoing effort. It was cool to see their stamps in the letterbox caches and know that they were here just a week ago.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tD70l9HKtdA/V27AUExS3zI/AAAAAAAAOGA/ue6FmK5Q9ZEToYG-EAlR6WZqC3B8yuybgCKgB/s1600/20160624_065605.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tD70l9HKtdA/V27AUExS3zI/AAAAAAAAOGA/ue6FmK5Q9ZEToYG-EAlR6WZqC3B8yuybgCKgB/s400/20160624_065605.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>The other fun thing from my morning was discovering a snake curled up right underneath a tupperware geocache. I didn't even notice the snake as I picked up the cache and signed my name in the log. It wasn't until I was about to set the cache back in the hiding spot that I saw this cute little snake all coiled up, waiting for the day to warm up. Good thing it wasn't a rattle snake.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qvrpkBb6e1w/V27AoSZijxI/AAAAAAAAOGM/7EuxyuLP1kokuUpG6isgYEsAtJO8PnbPQCKgB/s1600/20160624_065757.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qvrpkBb6e1w/V27AoSZijxI/AAAAAAAAOGM/7EuxyuLP1kokuUpG6isgYEsAtJO8PnbPQCKgB/s320/20160624_065757.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />I ended up hiking a nice 3.5 mile loop and finding ten of the geocaches in the area. There must be a couple dozen more out here. Looks like I'll have to make some more trips to the airport.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_pXRZj76e7c/V27BNA0bWuI/AAAAAAAAOGg/_JH8UnNWSik9dd59A6BoF0UGgrBNwbzOgCKgB/s1600/20160624_074036.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_pXRZj76e7c/V27BNA0bWuI/AAAAAAAAOGg/_JH8UnNWSik9dd59A6BoF0UGgrBNwbzOgCKgB/s320/20160624_074036.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At virtual cache <a href="https://coord.info/GC635">GC635</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Aaron Hobsonhttps://plus.google.com/103044856479168567706noreply@blogger.com0Placitas, NM 87043, USA35.33373673181012 -106.4743569379394335.307827231810123 -106.51469743793943 35.359646231810117 -106.43401643793943tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6916034258386603581.post-64282564708545762242016-06-17T10:12:00.000-07:002016-06-25T10:12:36.639-07:00A little cross country cachin'Moving from Tennessee to New Mexico offers all sorts of geocaching possibilities, not to mention a chance to see all sorts of new sites and attractions. But for me, the move was going to be a grueling 2 1/2 day slog with little time for fun stops. Unlike our last move, where I planned a few geocache stops along the way, I had nothing planned for this trip. We were just going to drive straight on the I-40, leaving Wednesday around noon and trying to arrive in Santa Fe early Friday afternoon. It would be a lot fo driving, with my dog and our 5 birds in the car with us. We'd stop when we got tired, and that was about it for planning. But since I now own a smartphone, I couldn't resist looking up a few caches where ever we stopped. And in this way geocaching provided a little bit of relief from the long-haul drive.<br /><br />Our first stop was at a rest-station in Tennessee, near Carthage. As we sat and munched snacks, I checked the geocaching app and sure enough, there was a traditional cache and virtual right in the rest stop. I went and visited the Virtual, but decided not to hunt the traditional, a micro placed right in front of the visitor information center and swarming with people. The Virtual cache, <a href="https://coord.info/GC97FA">Saddler's Rest</a>, was at a small cemetery, and just far enough away from the rest area that no one seemed to bother visiting it. It took the dog over and we made the find.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gCkGbVOqG3k/V26mh53ymGI/AAAAAAAANyc/nNE-y6UdulkTrV3HaO0eZe68sBHzmBenACKgB/s1600/20160615_125913.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gCkGbVOqG3k/V26mh53ymGI/AAAAAAAANyc/nNE-y6UdulkTrV3HaO0eZe68sBHzmBenACKgB/s320/20160615_125913.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Saddler's Rest</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WLY5pNbkAA8/V26mh5mjAtI/AAAAAAAANyc/edY15RXpAEEOOXqTv05HigkS582WYcrhwCKgB/s1600/20160615_125919.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WLY5pNbkAA8/V26mh5mjAtI/AAAAAAAANyc/edY15RXpAEEOOXqTv05HigkS582WYcrhwCKgB/s320/20160615_125919.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our big Yellow Penske at the Rest stop</td></tr></tbody></table>From Carthage we booked it across the state and ended up near Memphis in the evening. While stopped for gas, I looked up pet-friendly hotels and found one nearby, A Days Inn on Elvis Rd. I booked us a room and we made our way over, only to find out that we were in a seriously Elvis themed hotel, only two blocks from Graceland. It was gaudy and ridiculous, but it was a room, and we slept of the day's miles.<br /><br />Before leaving the next morning, I made a little geocaching expedition down across the Mississippi border. Finding a geocache in each state is one of those things that geocachers can't seem to help themselves from doing, myself included. We weer only 2 miles from the border anyways. We ended up finding two geocaches, although one was still in Tennessee. <a href="https://coord.info/GC2TVNP">Rock-N-Roll Ghosttown</a>&nbsp;and one just over the border in <a href="https://coord.info/GC2W36H">Southhaven</a>. The excursion took about a half an hour, but it was nice and cool in the early morning, and we were back on the road soon enough.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lpc_DL4Mc9w/V26odRCxx2I/AAAAAAAAN5M/wfMITOaZVFg3yOd6twXQb6_MqRD7gkrAQCKgB/s1600/20160616_065705.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lpc_DL4Mc9w/V26odRCxx2I/AAAAAAAAN5M/wfMITOaZVFg3yOd6twXQb6_MqRD7gkrAQCKgB/s320/20160616_065705.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hamming it up at GC2TVNP</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9idwTVwldYM/V26odsaXo7I/AAAAAAAAN5M/G9qHEqlkmFwgbLOxhN9LniFmgb65dv_ygCKgB/s1600/20160616_070516.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9idwTVwldYM/V26odsaXo7I/AAAAAAAAN5M/G9qHEqlkmFwgbLOxhN9LniFmgb65dv_ygCKgB/s320/20160616_070516.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sasha looks on at the Southhaven cache.&nbsp;</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yjg-UNJ17KU/V26oaLEhklI/AAAAAAAAN5M/R2AcrmQpoOEmuZqE4ybMmwFNnddkekjVQCKgB/s1600/20160615_185611.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yjg-UNJ17KU/V26oaLEhklI/AAAAAAAAN5M/R2AcrmQpoOEmuZqE4ybMmwFNnddkekjVQCKgB/s320/20160615_185611.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just some of the kitsch at our hotel in Graceland.</td></tr></tbody></table>We scooted through Arkansas with barely a stop, and I didn't find any geocaches there. Some geocachers might think this weird of me, to pass through the whole state and not try to find at least one cache, but since I had found an Arkansas cache when we moved to Tennessee two years ago, I didn't feel any strong urge to make a find this time through. We did make one pit-stop in Arkansas, but there weren't any geocaches nearby. Pretty soon we found ourselves in Oklahoma, which is a big big state to cross. We ate lunch at one of the highway rest-stops and once again there happenend to be a geocache nearby. Actually there were three geocaches at this one rest-stop, but I only went on a walk to find one. The dog needed to go for a bathroom break so off we went in search of fertilized ground and a geocache. I found the geocache, <a href="https://coord.info/GCRQG4">GCRQG4</a>,&nbsp;and much to my surprise, it had been found only the day before by one of my friends from Oak Ridge TN, <a href="https://www.geocaching.com/profile/?guid=2e57c809-6c1c-4cdb-896b-788336b681ab">Geoboater</a>! I couldn't help but call him up and see if he was still in Oklahoma. He wasn't, he was already in Dallas, but it was still surreal that we made the same stop on our respective road trips only a day apart. especially weird since I had seen him in Knoxville just 5 days earlier at a geocaching event.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DHSV2YOh6Xc/V26olFTVT1I/AAAAAAAAN5c/tS69_aq0ciEmJehXNvAcyC2wU0M3u3v5wCKgB/s1600/20160616_144709.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DHSV2YOh6Xc/V26olFTVT1I/AAAAAAAAN5c/tS69_aq0ciEmJehXNvAcyC2wU0M3u3v5wCKgB/s320/20160616_144709.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All the pets got out at this rest stop in Oklahoma</td></tr></tbody></table>We made it as far as Elk City Oklahoma before calling it a day. There weren't any geocaches near our hotel, and nothing in town that seemed all that interesting to go find, so I didn't make a find in Elk City. The next day put us through Texas and into New Mexico. Just an hour into our drive that morning, my dad, who was in the other car, got really drowsy, so we pulled off at a gas station about 20 miles east of Amarillo. After filling up gas, my dad took a quick cat nap and I checked the geocaching app to see if there was something nearby to pass the time. There was a geocache across the interstate called the <a href="https://coord.info/GCDB98">Bug Ranch</a>&nbsp;so I put the dog on a leash and we walked over. I don't know what I was expecting, but the row of half-buried on-end VW bugs, spray-painted a rainbow of colors was not it. This just is one of those nice surprises, a neat little local attraction that I would have missed entirely if not for seeking out a geocache here. The other funny thing is that the rest of my family was visiting the <a href="https://coord.info/GCG71X">Cadillac Ranch</a> on the west side of Amarillo at about the same time.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FCyagD8ADt4/V26onFCOWMI/AAAAAAAAN5Y/LlgQJMryH-IFCRK4CFyuIXCgfRi12K2UgCKgB/s1600/20160617_100050%25280%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FCyagD8ADt4/V26onFCOWMI/AAAAAAAAN5Y/LlgQJMryH-IFCRK4CFyuIXCgfRi12K2UgCKgB/s320/20160617_100050%25280%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cfgFHqgVccs/V26orO0Zv7I/AAAAAAAAN5Y/DfHulfpv_FYW0kB3p1CBWnRGR6mTdCjXgCKgB/s1600/20160617_100556.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cfgFHqgVccs/V26orO0Zv7I/AAAAAAAAN5Y/DfHulfpv_FYW0kB3p1CBWnRGR6mTdCjXgCKgB/s320/20160617_100556.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jwV-bxsE6Y8/V26oqOOyG2I/AAAAAAAAN5U/BQ5rQCeUNXQBfszlmEQzHFslD9E8p8GeQCKgB/s1600/20160617_100344.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jwV-bxsE6Y8/V26oqOOyG2I/AAAAAAAAN5U/BQ5rQCeUNXQBfszlmEQzHFslD9E8p8GeQCKgB/s320/20160617_100344.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The logbook is the VWs. here's my sig</td></tr></tbody></table>And that was it for geocaching. We caught up with the rest of my family at the <a href="https://coord.info/GC1W9BA">Blue Hole</a> in Santa Rosa, NM. There is an awesome earthcache here, but we found it a few years ago. That didn't stop us from jumping into the icy waters once again. The Blue hole left us feeling clean and refreshed as we finished the last hour of our trip to Santa Fe. All said, I found 5 geocaches over 1000 miles of driving and 5 states. Nothing to boast about, but each cache was a nice little diversion from the monotony of driving, and well worth the effort. Geocaching earns its keep once again!<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hYVqfiqgl5A/V262tHMNLaI/AAAAAAAAOFo/bw2grIuGU7Mbgq3AVm1pvoIyYQYzo5cxwCKgB/s1600/20160617_123731.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hYVqfiqgl5A/V262tHMNLaI/AAAAAAAAOFo/bw2grIuGU7Mbgq3AVm1pvoIyYQYzo5cxwCKgB/s640/20160617_123731.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jumping into New Mexico, Head First!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br />Aaron Hobsonhttps://plus.google.com/103044856479168567706noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6916034258386603581.post-72468615727978995432016-06-12T18:22:00.000-07:002016-06-12T18:22:01.281-07:00Adopting out caches<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">When I moved away from new Mexico, I adopted out a <a href="http://fugads.blogspot.com/2014/04/adopting-out-caches.html">few of my caches</a>, but for the most part left them under my name. A large portion of my caches placed in new Mexico were remote, rugged, and seldom found caches, and I figured that they would be ok left under my name. Also, I was highly into the Lonely Cache Project, and keeping the caches in my names helped me keep the points for those lonely caches. On the few caches I adopted out, I made the cheesy decision to log them as found by me in order to keep them in my LCP stats. Cheesy, but that’s what I did.<u></u><u></u></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">Now that we are moving away from Tennessee, I am faced with little different situation. There is no Lonely Cache Project here, but I still feel a strong connection to my caches. I realize that leaving them under my name is still a possibility, but the caches will survive much longer if I can find local cachers to adopt them. So at the CITO I hosted a month ago, I mentioned that I would be adopting out caches, and wow, I did not expect the response I got. Several local geocachers offered to adopt my caches, and many more told me that they enjoyed my cache hides in the area and hope that they will live on after I leave. It was really flattering to hear this. Many of my local caches do not get found often, but when they do I usually get really good logs. And many of my caches I am pretty darn proud of too. I had some good ideas while I was here, and was able to execute some of them pretty well. So I’ve been adopting out most of my caches, maybe even I’ll get them all adopted out. I am still a little hesitant to adopt out the Whereigos, as those can be tricky to do maintenance on since you need all the Cartridge details. And even after I adopt out caches, I add them all to a bookmark list I have called Adopted Out Caches, so that I continue to get notifications when the caches get logged. I love seeing logs on my caches, and I won’t let being a few states away stop me from hearing about what is going on with them.<u></u><u></u></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">Here’s a summary of my Tennessee Geocaches<u></u><u></u></div><table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background-color: white; border-collapse: collapse; border: none; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><tbody><tr><td style="border: 1pt solid windowtext; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 93.5pt;" valign="top" width="125"><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><b>Cache name<u></u><u></u></b></div></td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: solid solid solid none; border-top-color: windowtext; border-top-width: 1pt; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 45.6pt;" valign="top" width="61"><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><b># of Finds<u></u><u></u></b></div></td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: solid solid solid none; border-top-color: windowtext; border-top-width: 1pt; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 49.5pt;" valign="top" width="66"><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><b># of Favorite Points<u></u><u></u></b></div></td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: solid solid solid none; border-top-color: windowtext; border-top-width: 1pt; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 85.5pt;" valign="top" width="114"><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><b>Adopter<u></u><u></u></b></div></td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: solid solid solid none; border-top-color: windowtext; border-top-width: 1pt; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 7.5in;" valign="top" width="720"><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><b>My thoughts on this cache<u></u><u></u></b></div></td></tr><tr><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-color: windowtext; border-left-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 93.5pt;" valign="top" width="125"><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">A blast from the past<u></u><u></u></div></td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 45.6pt;" valign="top" width="61"><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">10<u></u><u></u></div></td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 49.5pt;" valign="top" width="66"><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">8<u></u><u></u></div></td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 85.5pt;" valign="top" width="114"><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">Lullabye4u<u></u><u></u></div></td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 7.5in;" valign="top" width="720"><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">The idea for this cache puzzle came from finding the container, which is fairly unique… but I can’t go into too much detail about that without giving away some spoilers. There is more to the story as well, my college friend Diana Silverman, who is in the puzzle, actually is the daughter of one of the inventors of “the software” that the puzzle is based on. A little personal connection I have for this puzzle.<u></u><u></u></div></td></tr><tr><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-color: windowtext; border-left-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 93.5pt;" valign="top" width="125"><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">Clinton Crossword Puzzle<u></u><u></u></div></td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 45.6pt;" valign="top" width="61"><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">16<u></u><u></u></div></td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 49.5pt;" valign="top" width="66"><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">10<u></u><u></u></div></td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 85.5pt;" valign="top" width="114"><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">Yomegranate<u></u><u></u></div></td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 7.5in;" valign="top" width="720"><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">Yomegranate wrote in her log that this was one of her all-time favorite puzzle caches to find. That was a while back, and I’m not sure if that is still the case, but I’ll never forget that wonderful log. It only felt proper that she adopt this one.<u></u><u></u></div></td></tr><tr><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-color: windowtext; border-left-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 93.5pt;" valign="top" width="125"><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">Geocaching and Invasive Plants: A Study<u></u><u></u></div></td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 45.6pt;" valign="top" width="61"><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">8<u></u><u></u></div></td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 49.5pt;" valign="top" width="66"><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">7<u></u><u></u></div></td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 85.5pt;" valign="top" width="114"><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">Quarter-Master<u></u><u></u></div></td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 7.5in;" valign="top" width="720"><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">The write-up for this puzzle is probably my favorite of all my hides. I had a blast coming up with it, and even got really good feedback from the Reviewer about this write-up, which hasn’t happened to me before. The log from Magkirk is pretty awesome as well.<u></u><u></u></div></td></tr><tr><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-color: windowtext; border-left-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 93.5pt;" valign="top" width="125"><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">Inception Challenge<u></u><u></u></div></td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 45.6pt;" valign="top" width="61"><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">3<u></u><u></u></div></td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 49.5pt;" valign="top" width="66"><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">3<u></u><u></u></div></td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 85.5pt;" valign="top" width="114"><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">Black*dot<u></u><u></u></div></td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 7.5in;" valign="top" width="720"><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">A really bizarre challenge cache idea I had that was meant to be a meta, kind of a statement about how ridiculous challenge caches were getting. It just so happened that it got published shortly before the moratorium on Challenge Caches occurred in late 2014. Now that has lifted, I am curious to see if Black*dot will pursue making an online checker for this challenge. Might be pretty tricky to do. The cache itself is placed at one of my favorite local hiking spots.<u></u><u></u></div></td></tr><tr><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-color: windowtext; border-left-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 93.5pt;" valign="top" width="125"><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">Irresistible<u></u><u></u></div></td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 45.6pt;" valign="top" width="61"><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">21<u></u><u></u></div></td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 49.5pt;" valign="top" width="66"><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">13<u></u><u></u></div></td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 85.5pt;" valign="top" width="114"><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">Black*dot<u></u><u></u></div></td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 7.5in;" valign="top" width="720"><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">Oddly one of my more frequently found caches. Unlike most of my caches, there wasn’t much thought that went into this cache placement. It was merely an irresistible location to me. It does have a slightly unusual D/T rating, which may account for its “popularity”. I think the rating is spot-on, and the cache is definitely not for everyone.<u></u><u></u></div></td></tr><tr><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-color: windowtext; border-left-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 93.5pt;" valign="top" width="125"><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">Lost quadcopter<u></u><u></u></div></td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 45.6pt;" valign="top" width="61"><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">9<u></u><u></u></div></td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 49.5pt;" valign="top" width="66"><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">5<u></u><u></u></div></td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 85.5pt;" valign="top" width="114"><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">Black*dot<u></u><u></u></div></td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 7.5in;" valign="top" width="720"><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">After receiving a quadcopter for my birthday (and losing it for several months), I really wanted to find a way to use the quadcopter for geocaching. Building the container was half the fun. I hope it weathers well, I’d love to see it get found more.<u></u><u></u></div></td></tr><tr><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-color: windowtext; border-left-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 93.5pt;" valign="top" width="125"><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">Riding the Dragon<u></u><u></u></div></td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 45.6pt;" valign="top" width="61"><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">13<u></u><u></u></div></td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 49.5pt;" valign="top" width="66"><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">5<u></u><u></u></div></td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 85.5pt;" valign="top" width="114"><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">Lullabye4u<u></u><u></u></div></td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 7.5in;" valign="top" width="720"><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">This cache is all about the theme. The location, container, story and stamp are all about dragons. It had a rather unfortunate start since it was discovered by bears at least twice. Hopefully it survives a good long time. I put a lot of work into carving the stamp.<u></u><u></u></div></td></tr><tr><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-color: windowtext; border-left-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 93.5pt;" valign="top" width="125"><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">TVG Game Night<u></u><u></u></div></td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 45.6pt;" valign="top" width="61"><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">12<u></u><u></u></div></td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 49.5pt;" valign="top" width="66"><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">9<u></u><u></u></div></td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 85.5pt;" valign="top" width="114"><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">Ol’Fogies<u></u><u></u></div></td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 7.5in;" valign="top" width="720"><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">Another themed cache that I had a great time putting together. In a bit more of a muggle prone area than I usually like to hide stuff, but hopefully it lasts. Ol’Fogies and some others have mentioned making spin-offs of this cache puzzle, other TVG Game-night style puzzle caches. I can definitely see something like that happening.<u></u><u></u></div></td></tr><tr><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-color: windowtext; border-left-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 93.5pt;" valign="top" width="125"><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">Thermodynamics: bull Run Fossil Plant<u></u><u></u></div></td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 45.6pt;" valign="top" width="61"><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">10<u></u><u></u></div></td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 49.5pt;" valign="top" width="66"><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">4<u></u><u></u></div></td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 85.5pt;" valign="top" width="114"><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">Pokerluck?<u></u><u></u></div></td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 7.5in;" valign="top" width="720"><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">Another themed cache, and one that gets way more technical in engineering problems than a cache really out to. But I still had fun reviewing my thermodynamics material for creating the puzzle. It was also fulfilling when I got permission from TVA for this hide. Took me out of my comfort zone to have to approach a big corporation for permission for a geocache.<u></u><u></u></div></td></tr><tr><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-color: windowtext; border-left-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 93.5pt;" valign="top" width="125"><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">Hiking through History: The Indian Rock Loop Trail<u></u><u></u></div></td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 45.6pt;" valign="top" width="61"><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">4<u></u><u></u></div></td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 49.5pt;" valign="top" width="66"><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">3<u></u><u></u></div></td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 85.5pt;" valign="top" width="114"><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">Kaput360<u></u><u></u></div></td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 7.5in;" valign="top" width="720"><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">Lot’s of stages on this multi, on trails that goecachers don’t seem that interested in. On the plus side, the State Park was really friendly about signing the geocaching permits.<u></u><u></u></div></td></tr><tr><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-color: windowtext; border-left-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 93.5pt;" valign="top" width="125"><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">Sharp’s Station<u></u><u></u></div></td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 45.6pt;" valign="top" width="61"><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">7<u></u><u></u></div></td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 49.5pt;" valign="top" width="66"><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">2<u></u><u></u></div></td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 85.5pt;" valign="top" width="114"><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">Kaput360<u></u><u></u></div></td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 7.5in;" valign="top" width="720"><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">Just a simply hide that is a decent hike out on a trail in Big Ridge State park. I was hoping that placing some more caches would bring some more geocaching traffic to this park. That doesn’t appear to have been the case.<u></u><u></u></div></td></tr><tr><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-color: windowtext; border-left-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 93.5pt;" valign="top" width="125"><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">Obed River Swimming Holes<u></u><u></u></div></td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 45.6pt;" valign="top" width="61"><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">2<u></u><u></u></div></td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 49.5pt;" valign="top" width="66"><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">2<u></u><u></u></div></td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 85.5pt;" valign="top" width="114"><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">Kaput360<u></u><u></u></div></td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 7.5in;" valign="top" width="720"><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><u></u>&nbsp;Great long hike in one of my favorite lcoal areas<u></u></div></td></tr><tr><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-color: windowtext; border-left-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 93.5pt;" valign="top" width="125"><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">CT: Obed River Section<u></u><u></u></div></td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 45.6pt;" valign="top" width="61"><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">2<u></u><u></u></div></td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 49.5pt;" valign="top" width="66"><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">2<u></u><u></u></div></td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 85.5pt;" valign="top" width="114"><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">Kaput360<u></u><u></u></div></td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 7.5in;" valign="top" width="720"><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /></div></td></tr><tr><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-color: windowtext; border-left-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 93.5pt;" valign="top" width="125"><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">CT: Eagle Bluff Section<u></u><u></u></div></td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 45.6pt;" valign="top" width="61"><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">0<u></u><u></u></div></td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 49.5pt;" valign="top" width="66"><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">2<u></u><u></u></div></td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 85.5pt;" valign="top" width="114"><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><i>Not adopting yet<u></u><u></u></i></div></td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 7.5in;" valign="top" width="720"><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">This was my second Whereigo hiking cache, and another long one, a twelve mile thru-hike. Not that difficult a hike if you ask me, but then not many geocachers have asked me. It is also in a region that doesn’t appear to have a lot of geocaching activity. I expect it to remain pretty lonely.<u></u><u></u></div></td></tr><tr><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-color: windowtext; border-left-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 93.5pt;" valign="top" width="125"><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">CT: Cross Mountain Day hike<u></u><u></u></div></td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 45.6pt;" valign="top" width="61"><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">2<u></u><u></u></div></td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 49.5pt;" valign="top" width="66"><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">2<u></u><u></u></div></td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 85.5pt;" valign="top" width="114"><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">??<u></u><u></u></div></td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 7.5in;" valign="top" width="720"><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">A little different spin on the standard Multi cache. I designed it to be done from either trailhead, but still require the same amount of hiking either way. Only two finders so far… it’s another off-the-beaten track trail.<u></u><u></u></div></td></tr><tr><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-color: windowtext; border-left-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 93.5pt;" valign="top" width="125"><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">Lilly and Princesses Kid Cache<u></u><u></u></div></td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 45.6pt;" valign="top" width="61"><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">35<u></u><u></u></div></td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 49.5pt;" valign="top" width="66"><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">2<u></u><u></u></div></td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 85.5pt;" valign="top" width="114"><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">??<u></u><u></u></div></td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 7.5in;" valign="top" width="720"><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">I might actually archive this one. It is placed near our house in Tennessee, and with the intention of being something that the kids and I could go check frequently to see what kind of toys kids are trading in and out. The two horses it was placed near have both passed away though, so it makes me a little sad now. It may also be my most found cache, which isn’t much of a distinction, as it is my only real drive-up park and grab.<u></u><u></u></div></td></tr><tr><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-color: windowtext; border-left-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 93.5pt;" valign="top" width="125"><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">Holston River Cave<u></u><u></u></div></td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 45.6pt;" valign="top" width="61"><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">2<u></u><u></u></div></td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 49.5pt;" valign="top" width="66"><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">2<u></u><u></u></div></td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 85.5pt;" valign="top" width="114"><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">GISpuma?<u></u><u></u></div></td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 7.5in;" valign="top" width="720"><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">In a cave, and a long way to paddle. Yet it was found recently by my friends MTippetts and GISpuma. Might have to see if they would like to adopt it.<u></u><u></u></div></td></tr><tr><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-color: windowtext; border-left-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 93.5pt;" valign="top" width="125"><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">Ridge hiking Frozen Head State Park<u></u><u></u></div></td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 45.6pt;" valign="top" width="61"><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">4<u></u><u></u></div></td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 49.5pt;" valign="top" width="66"><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">4<u></u><u></u></div></td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 85.5pt;" valign="top" width="114"><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><i>Not adopting yet</i><u></u><u></u></div></td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 7.5in;" valign="top" width="720"><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">One of my first caches placed in Tennessee, and a doozie, since it involves 17+ miles of hiking. Kind of my introductory hike to the area. I’d love to see it get found a few more times.<u></u><u></u></div></td></tr><tr><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-color: windowtext; border-left-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 93.5pt;" valign="top" width="125"><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">Boulder Bars and the Power of Water<u></u><u></u></div></td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 45.6pt;" valign="top" width="61"><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">7<u></u><u></u></div></td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 49.5pt;" valign="top" width="66"><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">3<u></u><u></u></div></td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 85.5pt;" valign="top" width="114"><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><i>Not adopting<u></u><u></u></i></div></td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 7.5in;" valign="top" width="720"><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">My only Earthcache placed in TN. I really wanted to do some research for an earthcache in this location (Obed River WSR) and found a cool article about alluvial beds that was published by the Park Service. The area has some wonderful hikes.<u></u><u></u></div></td></tr><tr><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-color: windowtext; border-left-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 93.5pt;" valign="top" width="125"><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">Songbird Trail<u></u><u></u></div></td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 45.6pt;" valign="top" width="61"><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">5<u></u><u></u></div></td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 49.5pt;" valign="top" width="66"><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">3<u></u><u></u></div></td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 85.5pt;" valign="top" width="114"><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">??<u></u><u></u></div></td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 7.5in;" valign="top" width="720"><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">Birdsong theme, and a techno-gadget field puzzle too. This is another one of my favorite hides that I’ve put together out here. I like birds, and this area. Hopefully it brings some more cachers out too.<u></u><u></u></div></td></tr><tr><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-color: windowtext; border-left-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 93.5pt;" valign="top" width="125"><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><b>TOTALS<u></u><u></u></b></div></td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 45.6pt;" valign="top" width="61"><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><b>172</b><b><u></u><u></u></b></div></td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 49.5pt;" valign="top" width="66"><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><b>91</b><b><u></u><u></u></b></div></td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 85.5pt;" valign="top" width="114"><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /></div></td><td style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-width: 1pt; border-style: none solid solid none; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 7.5in;" valign="top" width="720"><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">172 finds on 20 caches. Ton’s of really good logs and a good amount of favorite points. Not too shabby for two years.<u></u><u></u></div></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">Considering I also hosted 4 CITOs and one Event, I consider myself a pretty busy cache owner. And despite my reputation for putting out caches that rarely get found, and are in difficult places, my caches here in Tennessee are way more accessible than my hides in New Mexico. At least it feels that way.</div>Aaron Hobsonhttps://plus.google.com/103044856479168567706noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6916034258386603581.post-76743577082389872322016-06-11T19:03:00.000-07:002016-06-12T19:04:29.971-07:00It's My Party and I'll Cry if I Want To.......you would cry too if you were leaving the TVG. The cachers here are exceptionally nice, and they threw an event cache titled <a href="https://coord.info/GC6JJH9">Festive Fun Farewell For Friend Fugads</a>. I am slightly embarrassed really, I've only been living in the area for two years and don't really know everyone all that well. But I guess my cache placements, and logs on caches I've hunted here have earned me a reputation, maybe notoriety even. Enough so that when folks from TVG heard I was moving back to New Mexico they threw me a party.<br /><br />Parting is always tough, but it is easier when you have a great send-off. I took the whole family with me and we played with the other cachers both in the water at the park, and around the tents set-up. We even snuck off for a group hunt on a cache I had DNF'd a couple times. I definitely will miss this group. *sniff*, I'm tearing up already.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6qWxdJcuqCE/V14QlptCh1I/AAAAAAAANBo/U25YlWr9xpItfQg2Swet9OWnvMpfoItTwCKgB/s1600/20160612_074502.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6qWxdJcuqCE/V14QlptCh1I/AAAAAAAANBo/U25YlWr9xpItfQg2Swet9OWnvMpfoItTwCKgB/s640/20160612_074502.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Event "Log Book"</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Aaron Hobsonhttps://plus.google.com/103044856479168567706noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6916034258386603581.post-48129853511650789062016-06-03T18:39:00.000-07:002016-06-12T18:39:36.238-07:00Paddling White Oak Pond<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">A few years ago I noticed a new series of puzzle caches pop up on a lake near my dad’s house in New Hampshire. It was a series of 10 puzzle caches, all micros, placed on quiet White Oak Pond. The puzzles ran the gamut from easy to devilishly tricky. And every so often I take a look at them. I’ve managed to solve 5 of them, and feel like I am close on a few others. And every time I visit my dad, which isn’t that often, I think about going out to try to find them. This year, it actually looked like a good possibility. We had several days to lounge at my dad’s house, with very little planned agenda. My dad has several small boats, kayaks, canoes and even a small rowboat, all perfect for the quiet White Oaks Pond. The fact that the whole family was excited to go out with me to find these caches was even better. My dad, my brother, my wife, son and daughter, we all headed out for an afternoon on the lake. My dad and brother ended up taking the canoe, the rest of us piled into my dad’s brand new Adirondak Guide rowboat. I have to say, the row boat is very smooth, and efficient. We easily sped away from the canoe, and I wasn’t even rowing that hard.<u></u><u></u></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VmxfuHOrIjI/V14OP0EHEqI/AAAAAAAANA8/9qwXkVf3mNAHm-WAICOLh7qSp4RGW5ZSQCKgB/s1600/20160602_153917.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VmxfuHOrIjI/V14OP0EHEqI/AAAAAAAANA8/9qwXkVf3mNAHm-WAICOLh7qSp4RGW5ZSQCKgB/s400/20160602_153917.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">White Oak Pond in style with an Adirondak Guide Row Boat</td></tr></tbody></table><u></u><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">We made it to the first cache location and I learned that a rowboat is actually pretty tough for tight maneuvers near the shore. With my wife calling out the distance to GZ from the GPSr, I addled my way into getting the nose of the boat where we thought the cache should be, and voila, my wife spotted the tether, and then the cache.<u></u><u></u></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-F7anSI6ujZo/V14OXbxMRyI/AAAAAAAANBE/YZdiGY4tRaodRAiM9lGScDmL5UEvKiqRgCKgB/s1600/20160602_153156.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-F7anSI6ujZo/V14OXbxMRyI/AAAAAAAANBE/YZdiGY4tRaodRAiM9lGScDmL5UEvKiqRgCKgB/s320/20160602_153156.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I've got ... Moxie!</td></tr></tbody></table><u></u><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">We got to row through a lovely patch of lily pads and flowers to get to the next GZ and for this one I decided we’d actually hop out of the boat to make our search. My son and I both hopped out and squished in the marshy mud and started our search. This time we were not so lucky. My dad and brother joined in the search and we squished all over, swatting at mosquitos and not finding the cache. After a little bit of time, and some near-misses with falling into the water (which wouldn’t have been so bad if you asked me), we decided to get back in the boats and try the next cache location. We ended up switching boats, I got into the canoe, and my brother hopped in the row boat. A bit of a breeze was blowing now, and we had to paddle right into it. It wasn’t tough going, but it wasn’t fast. On the plus side, the breeze blew the mosquitos away. The next cache was easy to find, once again my wife spotted it first and signed it for me. I wanted to go after a few more, but it was getting late, so we turned our backs to the wind and has a race back to the boat ramp. I’m pleased to say that my dad and I won.<u></u><u></u></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">Since we only found two of the White Oak Pond puzzle caches, I already was thinking about heading back out in a kayak on my own to grab the rest. I was already getting up early this vacation (see Maine trip). I could easily slip away the next morning, grab a kayak and take quiet paddle to find the rest. And that is exactly what I did.<u></u><u></u></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ThBXEVDmceA/V14OkBMYVJI/AAAAAAAANBM/fZ7O6cvVFMQu3v-K6gsoGjEDwwSpQf19ACKgB/s1600/20160603_064234.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ThBXEVDmceA/V14OkBMYVJI/AAAAAAAANBM/fZ7O6cvVFMQu3v-K6gsoGjEDwwSpQf19ACKgB/s320/20160603_064234.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Back for more</td></tr></tbody></table><u></u><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">White Oak Pond at&nbsp;<span class="aBn" data-term="goog_8393785" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">6:00</span></span>&nbsp;was a sheet of glass, and it was pure bliss to glide over it. I passed a family of Canadian geese, had a loon swim right by me, and was generally feeling pretty good. I was also taking a bunch of pictures with my phone, and to make it easier to access, I was stowing my phone underneath my life-jacket, simply by lifting it up a bit and letting the phone be pressed between my chest and the foam. This turned out not to be such a great idea, as at the second geocache, I stepped out of the kayak and the phone slipped out and right into the lake. I snatched it up right away and it hardly got wet, but it still wasn’t a good thing. The phone appeared to be working still, but there was some moisture on the inside of the camera lenses. I finished finding the last three caches on the lake, and was back to the house by&nbsp;<span class="aBn" data-term="goog_8393786" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">8am</span></span>, just in time for a big breakfast. The phone went into a bag of rice to sit and dry for 24 hours. And I’m happy to say, it is working just fine now.<u></u><u></u></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TZ_ZNXaVSnU/V14OtvbJyHI/AAAAAAAANBU/phpmTrgTPeYQqb2tyL2OaXoD2buGDUMDwCKgB/s1600/20160603_064408.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TZ_ZNXaVSnU/V14OtvbJyHI/AAAAAAAANBU/phpmTrgTPeYQqb2tyL2OaXoD2buGDUMDwCKgB/s400/20160603_064408.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><u></u><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">Now to solve those last 5 puzzles for our next visit.</div>Aaron Hobsonhttps://plus.google.com/103044856479168567706noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6916034258386603581.post-56156763278692834872016-06-01T18:34:00.000-07:002016-06-12T18:34:55.093-07:00Caching in on Maine<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dt_7_-wb5_Y/V14M9WRgjmI/AAAAAAAANAs/CPAvfj39FDkdp0psJrkFBC245qSXfnnQwCKgB/s1600/20160531_095306.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="184" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dt_7_-wb5_Y/V14M9WRgjmI/AAAAAAAANAs/CPAvfj39FDkdp0psJrkFBC245qSXfnnQwCKgB/s640/20160531_095306.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">We were in Maine for a family trip, that is a trip where you visit family with your family, and I really wanted to find a geocache while we were there. Finding a geocache in a new state is just something long-time geocachers want to do. There isn’t a really good reason. Each time you find a geocache in a new state (or country in some instances) that region turns a different color on your “stats map”. And somehow, this little change in the pixel representation of a map on this one obscure little page brings a sense of accomplishment to geocachers. It is rather remarkable. I dunno, maybe not all geocachers feel that way. But based on my conversations with geocachers, I’m pretty sure this is a common occurrence. Anyhow, the point is I was in Maine and everyone knew I wanted to find a geocache. And yet despite driving all over on Memorial day, I didn’t get a cache. This isn’t from lack of opportunity. We visited several towns on our tour, seeing the Alewives running the fish ladders of Damariscotta, tidepooling beneath Pemaquid point lighthouse, eating lunch at a wonderful restaurant in Newport, stopping at the Oxbow Brewery. All locations with geocaches nearby, almost within my reach. But every time I tried to get my family to come over with me, away from whatever fun thing we were doing, to go find a geocache, they were all utterly un-interested. I<i>could</i>&nbsp;have just nipped off on my ow, but we were really having too much fun. So I went all day without getting my Maine geocache.<u></u><u></u></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">Lucky for me we were in Maine for more than one day. And also lucky for me, I was getting up at the crack of daylight, which for Maine this time of year, was&nbsp;<span class="aBn" data-term="goog_8393782" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">5am</span></span>. So up I got, while everyone slept snuggled in their beds, and went for a walk around Gardiner, where I got my first Maine geocache, <a href="https://coord.info/GC4YGWM">GC4YGWM</a>! Actually a pretty good geocache, in a large cemetery. I proceeded to find a couple more geocaches on my walk, and got back to my sister’s house a&nbsp;<span class="aBn" data-term="goog_8393783" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">6:30</span></span>, and the kids were up and already having breakfast.<u></u><u></u></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">But the geocaching didn’t stop there! Since my sister and her family had work and school the day after Memorial day, we all took off for the beach, and went to Popham beach where the whole family helped me find <a href="https://coord.info/GC1WPQ1">GC1WPQ1</a>, a really cool multi cache that involves walking out on a sandbar that is only present at low tide to reach an island. Actually it was mostly just my son who helped me, my daughter and wife fell asleep on our beach blanket. Playing at the beach is tiring!<u></u><u></u></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0-gCXgpKVRI/V14M9c1WmvI/AAAAAAAANAs/kcqDwRlZgD4XVngTAx31iAmLfpHDrkPmQCKgB/s1600/20160531_104921.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: transparent; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0-gCXgpKVRI/V14M9c1WmvI/AAAAAAAANAs/kcqDwRlZgD4XVngTAx31iAmLfpHDrkPmQCKgB/s320/20160531_104921.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Near GC1WPQ1</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yfhImWuQp14/V14M9dMqBPI/AAAAAAAANAs/3L9ebbqk1DgLMKeGzKZP9bw_vnGstSS6QCKgB/s1600/20160531_113846.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: transparent; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yfhImWuQp14/V14M9dMqBPI/AAAAAAAANAs/3L9ebbqk1DgLMKeGzKZP9bw_vnGstSS6QCKgB/s320/20160531_113846.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Got it!</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">I was able to grab a few more caches in Portland also by getting up super early. We stayed at my brother-in-laws girlfriends, AirB&amp;B, which is actually just her apartment. A very cute place right in downtown Portland. I got up at&nbsp;<span class="aBn" data-term="goog_8393784" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">5am</span></span>&nbsp;again and wandered the streets of Portland finding some micro caches and also a virtual.&nbsp;</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ztKhzlBTZJI/V14M9Ti2J_I/AAAAAAAANAs/22QchgxhRug_6MdIB88obkddXZf_ShQjgCKgB/s1600/20160601_052708.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-size: medium; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ztKhzlBTZJI/V14M9Ti2J_I/AAAAAAAANAs/22QchgxhRug_6MdIB88obkddXZf_ShQjgCKgB/s320/20160601_052708.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Portland at 5am</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">But the best geocache came when we decided to visit just one last place in Maine before heading back to my dad’s house in New Hampshire, Portland Head Light in Fort Williams Park. My brother-in-law told us we had to visit this spot before leaving, and when I went to check out the geocaches there, I saw that there was one cache with hundreds of favorite points. It was the oldest geocache in Maine, <a href="https://coord.info/GC128">GC128</a>. Just my luck we happened to be there. This time, when I plead my case to the family to find this geocache, they agreed, so off we went. It was actually rather easy to get to, with a &nbsp;well worn geo-trail. The cache was very well hidden. We searched for a while in the likely spots and were not finding it. It wasn’t until I started digging through some leaf litter that I uncovered the cache and we shouted out triumphantly! As it turns out, some geocachers DNF’d the cache recently and contacted me about where it was. They must have been rather disappointed to DNF Maine’s oldest geocache.<u></u><u></u></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-to48FeDvpg0/V14M9bTmR3I/AAAAAAAANAs/9W0ToiwgPv8bxGioJd1qlqSv2w7UbDsNACKgB/s1600/20160601_090437.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: transparent; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-to48FeDvpg0/V14M9bTmR3I/AAAAAAAANAs/9W0ToiwgPv8bxGioJd1qlqSv2w7UbDsNACKgB/s320/20160601_090437.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Searching for the oldest</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yalW8MnUuzs/V14M9V5HXyI/AAAAAAAANAs/E-KgHVMgb7EMQw4zIx9LP6EHS5v0jrcMQCKgB/s1600/20160601_093057.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-size: medium; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yalW8MnUuzs/V14M9V5HXyI/AAAAAAAANAs/E-KgHVMgb7EMQw4zIx9LP6EHS5v0jrcMQCKgB/s320/20160601_093057.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Travel bug drop</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">We left Maine happy, and I got my pixels colored.</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cStUrOPgI4c/V14M9ZZp8UI/AAAAAAAANAs/2E7zO0lyYMg7RyfDtPPz3V9ERsSfc8w2QCKgB/s1600/20160601_094909.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-size: medium; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cStUrOPgI4c/V14M9ZZp8UI/AAAAAAAANAs/2E7zO0lyYMg7RyfDtPPz3V9ERsSfc8w2QCKgB/s320/20160601_094909.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vein of quartz that Ada helped me locate for an earthcache</td></tr></tbody></table>Aaron Hobsonhttps://plus.google.com/103044856479168567706noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6916034258386603581.post-63106840661427267052016-05-25T14:54:00.000-07:002016-05-26T15:02:50.023-07:00First-to-find of the Fugads Farewell Ffff..tribute<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3I-D1Sah1Lc/V0dxXkZPMJI/AAAAAAAAL8k/zs_2NZfQFBkKsZGiN9QNbNP730nUOVW_gCKgB/s1600/20160525_135138.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3I-D1Sah1Lc/V0dxXkZPMJI/AAAAAAAAL8k/zs_2NZfQFBkKsZGiN9QNbNP730nUOVW_gCKgB/s320/20160525_135138.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In Wartburg, ready for adventure!</td></tr></tbody></table>Couldn't get that alliteration working all the way. Two years ago we were moving from New Mexico to Tennessee. I had made a bunch of geocaching friends in Las Cruces, and the day we were moving a new cache was published called <a href="http://coord.info/GC54FFP">Good Luck Cache</a>, wishing me, and another cacher who was also leaving the area good luck in our new endeavors. It's very touching to have someone place a tribute cache for you. Geocaches can live a long time, and years after I have been gone, folks may still be finding this cache and wondering about who it was placed for. I've found a fair number of tribute caches myself. They are cool to find. But even cooler is when someone thinks well enough of you to place a cache to celebrate you. So it was a bummer for me when I couldn't get away to sign that tribute cache in Las Cruces when we drove out of town.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-egC1LA47bjU/V0dxV7B9OxI/AAAAAAAAL8o/xOEWp4C4N2swMnlA6bC4kJbMw3gn_RKmwCKgB/s1600/20160525_112104.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-egC1LA47bjU/V0dxV7B9OxI/AAAAAAAAL8o/xOEWp4C4N2swMnlA6bC4kJbMw3gn_RKmwCKgB/s320/20160525_112104.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the tunnels. Super cool!</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Now, two years later, my family is moving back to New Mexico, although to Santa Fe this time. And once again, I have made some good geocaching friends here in Tennessee and was tickled when I got an email that a tribute cache was being placed for me. But like before it quickly became a source of anxiety for me as to whether I'd be able to actually go and find the cache. let me explain.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-H3R-UohGNZw/V0dxVTdc3hI/AAAAAAAAL8o/_RpeSEGVF3wWUIYo4qmWR2vE80jNIIvYQCKgB/s1600/20160525_104505.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-H3R-UohGNZw/V0dxVTdc3hI/AAAAAAAAL8o/_RpeSEGVF3wWUIYo4qmWR2vE80jNIIvYQCKgB/s320/20160525_104505.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Levin reacts to my wonky log signature. Hey, I forgot a pen. But did have a knife.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-58Poa8taqjk/V0dxVi3qOKI/AAAAAAAAL8o/mugeaTl_cBEiJlviE5rqj6Rb2QGDF7U7QCKgB/s1600/20160525_111126.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-58Poa8taqjk/V0dxVi3qOKI/AAAAAAAAL8o/mugeaTl_cBEiJlviE5rqj6Rb2QGDF7U7QCKgB/s320/20160525_111126.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Glowstick fun</td></tr></tbody></table><br />The cache placed for me,&nbsp;<a href="http://coord.info/GC6J5BR">GC6J5BR</a>, is the kind of cache I adore. An adventurous hike, exploring one of the lesser known cool areas outside of Wartburg. It involves abandoned train tunnels, river crossings, a nice hike and nearby swimming holes. What is not to love. The one thing it wasn't was a close park-and-grab, and given our current getting-ready-to-move stresses, I seriously doubted I'd be able to get to the cache. I contemplated a night run of the cache, which might have been fun, but a better opportunity emerged. How about play hookie from work to take care of my sick daughter? My wife had actually stayed home with our daughter for the last few days, she was coughing at night and not sleeping well. But during the day she seemed pretty normal, so it probably was allergy related. So the claim of her being sick had some truth... sure... It was easy enough to convince myself of that. What sealed the deal in my mind was another small fact, that almost <a href="http://coord.info/GLHV6K2C">exactly a year ago</a>, I had visited the same location with my kids and it was one of our most memorable geocaching adventures together. How cool would it be to take one more trip out to the Obed, find a cache, look for critters, frolic in the water. Might be our last chance to do this in Tennessee.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YjsDNbBe8Nc/V0dxXJX_d1I/AAAAAAAAL8o/GVw9hbyLqOMwR9bEbVZp8DTzolJ0YaR-wCKgB/s1600/20160525_125328.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YjsDNbBe8Nc/V0dxXJX_d1I/AAAAAAAAL8o/GVw9hbyLqOMwR9bEbVZp8DTzolJ0YaR-wCKgB/s320/20160525_125328.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Splashy time</td></tr></tbody></table>So off we went. I wrote about the trip already on my <a href="http://coord.info/GLN3CBTX">log</a>, and don't feel like repeating myself here. But in summary, a good time was head. Just me and the kids, out exploring together. It doesn't get much better than that. And if my friends Lullabye and Kaput hadn't placed this tribute cache for me, I probably just would have spent the day at work. BORING! I'll miss them, and all the other great geocachers I've met here in Tennessee. Two years passes too quickly. Tennessee, thanks for all the fun.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Te0RIRGR-SI/V0dxVNy3rVI/AAAAAAAAL8o/Vyo6k4367EsHWf2NbCOSVOpi5Hb0gUDDACKgB/s1600/20160525_093339.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Te0RIRGR-SI/V0dxVNy3rVI/AAAAAAAAL8o/Vyo6k4367EsHWf2NbCOSVOpi5Hb0gUDDACKgB/s320/20160525_093339.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Exit from Tennessee</td></tr></tbody></table>Aaron Hobsonhttps://plus.google.com/103044856479168567706noreply@blogger.com0Nemo, Tennessee 37887, USA36.0670188 -84.65244109999997610.5449843 -125.96103509999998 61.5890533 -43.343847099999977tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6916034258386603581.post-37522500244318123392016-04-18T19:03:00.001-07:002016-04-18T19:03:49.750-07:00A little wildflower hike with my kidsThe kids had off from school today and I w=took off from work to hang out with them. We spent the morning hiking to a <a href="http://coord.info/GC6CTV4">geocache</a> in Frozen Head State Park, but the finding the cache was secondary to enjoying all the marvelous wildflowers. A splendid way to spend the morning.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-M6_mYWiJNQ4/VxWR82aUrKI/AAAAAAAALD0/DP01dLkI2zoUB5cOLx7Kp5Z4KipfFNPDwCKgB/s1600/20160418_101118.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-M6_mYWiJNQ4/VxWR82aUrKI/AAAAAAAALD0/DP01dLkI2zoUB5cOLx7Kp5Z4KipfFNPDwCKgB/s320/20160418_101118.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HktMe4tPPHk/VxWR81sIPJI/AAAAAAAALD0/daomOU7omRI5_Khqtw99z84URM3meuVkwCKgB/s1600/20160418_100420.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HktMe4tPPHk/VxWR81sIPJI/AAAAAAAALD0/daomOU7omRI5_Khqtw99z84URM3meuVkwCKgB/s320/20160418_100420.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AAygps7xNq0/VxWR82t1BeI/AAAAAAAALD0/ZAGsA8hNrcQtbmCUvTrjbndiggSrx4DEwCKgB/s1600/20160418_094534.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AAygps7xNq0/VxWR82t1BeI/AAAAAAAALD0/ZAGsA8hNrcQtbmCUvTrjbndiggSrx4DEwCKgB/s320/20160418_094534.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RGYEEHQxvp8/VxWR88oTYcI/AAAAAAAALD0/Ttt9zryKbUYxwGMy1Qmz8eAOQ5ytRefgwCKgB/s1600/20160418_093514.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RGYEEHQxvp8/VxWR88oTYcI/AAAAAAAALD0/Ttt9zryKbUYxwGMy1Qmz8eAOQ5ytRefgwCKgB/s320/20160418_093514.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ySKiLoZDeqI/VxWR87d_oHI/AAAAAAAALD0/Fucv8fM5U78_iJlKWbEiNi70gQ8EGL_awCKgB/s1600/20160418_090332.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ySKiLoZDeqI/VxWR87d_oHI/AAAAAAAALD0/Fucv8fM5U78_iJlKWbEiNi70gQ8EGL_awCKgB/s320/20160418_090332.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pEHWetwbkBs/VxWR83aCNZI/AAAAAAAALD0/q5B5LJo07rIDLJWV7cyCwV6BvysozL0mQCKgB/s1600/20160418_090212.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pEHWetwbkBs/VxWR83aCNZI/AAAAAAAALD0/q5B5LJo07rIDLJWV7cyCwV6BvysozL0mQCKgB/s320/20160418_090212.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-isPVegETVc0/VxWR8yvYQvI/AAAAAAAALD0/Ks5ZuXiGbAEc231wstV0VP0ZGV_xgrUtwCKgB/s1600/20160418_085604.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-isPVegETVc0/VxWR8yvYQvI/AAAAAAAALD0/Ks5ZuXiGbAEc231wstV0VP0ZGV_xgrUtwCKgB/s320/20160418_085604.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qiTTCjT_Gp4/VxWR8_648GI/AAAAAAAALD0/iDs0VxCZ_bsqiwj_8pgOztHG2e25YWVxwCKgB/s1600/20160418_085512.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qiTTCjT_Gp4/VxWR8_648GI/AAAAAAAALD0/iDs0VxCZ_bsqiwj_8pgOztHG2e25YWVxwCKgB/s320/20160418_085512.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ulyyVhpKz6w/VxWR80IIccI/AAAAAAAALD0/gtjfrRjr48kSOLvVqjhEbuSjwAeg-3IwwCKgB/s1600/20160418_085504.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ulyyVhpKz6w/VxWR80IIccI/AAAAAAAALD0/gtjfrRjr48kSOLvVqjhEbuSjwAeg-3IwwCKgB/s320/20160418_085504.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1lgXa6bAFJs/VxWR89_eBzI/AAAAAAAALD0/IT4J17qQfN8Gb6BpmLY_N1CCEA_eQqHsACKgB/s1600/20160418_085217.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1lgXa6bAFJs/VxWR89_eBzI/AAAAAAAALD0/IT4J17qQfN8Gb6BpmLY_N1CCEA_eQqHsACKgB/s320/20160418_085217.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rUz-25ucZ7g/VxWR8yf1JtI/AAAAAAAALD0/WI9vQ9pyCEMNG5E-Vhd-bwULYNUeLoMBwCKgB/s1600/20160418_084530.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rUz-25ucZ7g/VxWR8yf1JtI/AAAAAAAALD0/WI9vQ9pyCEMNG5E-Vhd-bwULYNUeLoMBwCKgB/s320/20160418_084530.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-90V702vcPdI/VxWR87xzZ5I/AAAAAAAALD0/h6BiZaZXyjcp0idcr2aV3KSrq7jgN6F8gCKgB/s1600/20160418_083417.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-90V702vcPdI/VxWR87xzZ5I/AAAAAAAALD0/h6BiZaZXyjcp0idcr2aV3KSrq7jgN6F8gCKgB/s320/20160418_083417.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qKcwV08fons/VxWR817COWI/AAAAAAAALD0/p0Wflmgz0foDkDN5wDjJ9J3HmR2GdwrDwCKgB/s1600/20160418_082926.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qKcwV08fons/VxWR817COWI/AAAAAAAALD0/p0Wflmgz0foDkDN5wDjJ9J3HmR2GdwrDwCKgB/s320/20160418_082926.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kiGVhidbObc/VxWR843dufI/AAAAAAAALD0/PkKYUO4v52c5cot5Icd-W9ydHqFlE4dEACKgB/s1600/20160418_082320.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kiGVhidbObc/VxWR843dufI/AAAAAAAALD0/PkKYUO4v52c5cot5Icd-W9ydHqFlE4dEACKgB/s320/20160418_082320.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-k4WSrzXcIn8/VxWR8_Xu9CI/AAAAAAAALD0/66PJXEcmvpEY6Ete4zTlubn4uuzPdKkJACKgB/s1600/20160418_083251.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-k4WSrzXcIn8/VxWR8_Xu9CI/AAAAAAAALD0/66PJXEcmvpEY6Ete4zTlubn4uuzPdKkJACKgB/s320/20160418_083251.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><br />Aaron Hobsonhttps://plus.google.com/103044856479168567706noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6916034258386603581.post-8831934655610080162016-04-16T18:42:00.000-07:002016-04-18T18:59:35.791-07:00Silver Lining CITO<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-73lnZlVAu4Q/VxWQioPZTYI/AAAAAAAALDY/JVhznCCioQIlu8Px2rEh2LdiyJJaM_BqQCKgB/s1600/20160416_161132.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-73lnZlVAu4Q/VxWQioPZTYI/AAAAAAAALDY/JVhznCCioQIlu8Px2rEh2LdiyJJaM_BqQCKgB/s320/20160416_161132.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div>I don't know what it is about being a geocacher here in Tennessee, but I've hosted more CITOs than I ever did in New Mexico. Scratch that, all the CITOs I've hosted ahve been here in Tennessee. I'm sure it has nothing to do with the geography, and everything to do with me. Back in New Mexico I hardly only hosted two events and they were both right before we moved. I don't think I had matured as a geocacher to the point where I was ready to host events until then. But here in Tennessee I've hosted events pretty much since we moved here. Mostly, they've been CITO events, there are enough other type events where I haven't felt the urge/need to host one of those. There aren't that many CITO events though, and I actually like these kinds of events better than the typical event around here, which usually involves hanging out at a restaurant. I like CITOs because they involve an outdoor activity, and I am much more comfortable connecting with people in that kind of environment.&nbsp;<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XqPPfwcWYLg/VxWQmua4cAI/AAAAAAAALDc/P1LClZHc53UH4VP6Zb4vym66nyqrqa-RgCKgB/s1600/20160416_175836.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XqPPfwcWYLg/VxWQmua4cAI/AAAAAAAALDc/P1LClZHc53UH4VP6Zb4vym66nyqrqa-RgCKgB/s320/20160416_175836.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Anyhow, I hosted my <a href="http://coord.info/GC6CRKC">4th CITO</a> and it went really well. Two of my previous CITOs were in fairly remote areas and didn't have much of a turn-out. This one was in a county park close to everyone, and I also threw in a pot-luck dinner after the trash pick-up. Perhaps because of the social/eating aspect to the event, there were quite a few people who turned up. We spent an hour picking up trash along the fisherman trails. TO make things a little different, I spray-painted 4 "typical" pieces of trash chrome-silver and planted them in 4 different regions of the park. Keen-eyed geocachers who spotted this silver-lined trash during their CITO could redeem them for prizes. Two of the 4 were found and turned in, with a third being found but thrown into the trash bags by mistake. The 4th was never found, but I gave out the prizes anyways. Prizes are fun.</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FmHDPmih8IY/VxWQphgmUFI/AAAAAAAALDg/MOxNU9cLZckUqua0DIKQTwOSUjFap28gwCKgB/s1600/20160417_195909.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FmHDPmih8IY/VxWQphgmUFI/AAAAAAAALDg/MOxNU9cLZckUqua0DIKQTwOSUjFap28gwCKgB/s320/20160417_195909.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">ONe of the silver lined refuse. Ended up using it as a logbook for the event.</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>Towards the end, I made an announcement that we are moving back to New Mexico this summer. The cachers and caches in this area are great, and I've really enjoyed my time here. Our next home will have a tough act to follow. I hope I continue to host CITOs though. It's a good way to get out and meet other local cachers.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pWhNiXiPPN4/VxWQt5nBsAI/AAAAAAAALDk/1jNvzThUd-w1m-DiFEBk1MhA_erOWDYAQCKgB/s1600/20160416_193753.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pWhNiXiPPN4/VxWQt5nBsAI/AAAAAAAALDk/1jNvzThUd-w1m-DiFEBk1MhA_erOWDYAQCKgB/s320/20160416_193753.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>At the very end of the event, I got to borrow a kayak from my friends Lullabye and Kaput and paddle out to the island cache near the park. I had found a few T5 water caches before, but rarely actually by paddling to one (this <a href="http://fugads.blogspot.com/2014/09/best-cito-yet.html">other CITO</a> was the exception). Quite an easy and pleasant way to find a T5 cache I might add. I was pretty psyched to be on the water for a bit.<br /><div><br /></div></div>Aaron Hobsonhttps://plus.google.com/103044856479168567706noreply@blogger.com0Melton Hill Park, 3230 Williams Bend Rd, Knoxville, TN 37932, USA35.9490649 -84.23380709999997910.427030400000003 -125.54240109999998 61.4710994 -42.925213099999979